I sent a galliot to Yndia in November of last year, 631, in order to continue my negotiations with that viceroy in regard to this matter of joining hands in order better to attack the enemy. Particularly did I inform him of the order sent me by your Majesty about making an expedition to the island of Hermosa, asking him for the aid which I considered necessary. I wrote the same to Macan, so that it might for its part make other necessary preparations. I am advised that the said galliot, because it was well equipped, escaped from the enemy who were stationed in the above-mentioned strait of Malaca awaiting the galliots from China—which latter they captured, together with another ship belonging to a merchant of this city. May God remedy this loss.
I am advised from Camboja that a galleon which I am having built there at your Majesty’s account has been already launched. No one thought that this would be accomplished; but it has been God’s will that the difficulties should be conquered at last, and that this shipbuilding should be established in a place where this ship has been built at much less cost, and from more durable woods, than [it could have been] in these islands. As this one has been built, so can many others be constructed; and these provinces can be relieved from the great burden of their shipyards. I also have under discussion another negotiation with the city of Cochin in regard to this same matter; and, if it succeeds, it will be of great service to your Majesty.
Some difficulties have arisen in military matters, which it is necessary for your Majesty to have determined in your Council of the Yndias. Since your Majesty has had armed forces in these islands, the ships which enter this port and that of Cabite have been inspected by the military department. The governor does not go in person, both because of his many duties and also because every year he gives commission, by his authority, to one of the persons in whom he trusts, for that person to go in his name. This appointee goes in company with a notary, and inspects the number of the people, and the arms, ammunition, and the amount of property, to see if everything is in accordance with the orders given from the time of Governor Don Juan de Silva to the Chinese, so that they might not burden these islands with useless ships and people (as will be seen by the copy of the commission, which is sent to your Majesty in your royal Council of the Indias). Several discontented regidors—thinking to annoy me, and incited perhaps by some of this royal Audiencia who is but little inclined to my course of action—presented a decree of your Majesty (of which a copy is also enclosed to your said royal Council), under date of the year 20, in which it is ordained that, in order to give this commission, the governor must meet with the auditors, and that all in assembly choose the person to whom it shall be given. This detracts authority from the office of the captain-general, to maintain which efforts should be made in that royal Council of the Yndias. I am now with spurs on my heels, as they say, [ready] either for the other world, or to finish this government. Consequently, I cannot negotiate this matter with the intention of enjoying it; I am doing this for the service of your Majesty and for the authority of the office—considering that, although it would be very proper to have this commission granted by the votes of four, never would those votes conform, for each one would try to have it given to his friend. For the commission entails but little work; and, if many ships come, it is worth quite one thousand or one thousand five hundred pesos. The tariff of fees is appraised by the Audiencia, of which I also send a copy to that said royal Council. I petition your Majesty that it be examined in that royal Council, so that the military department may have a defense on its part, and so that its rights of preëminence may be kept.
There has also arisen a quarrel this year over criminal jurisdiction between the master-of-camp of these islands and the castellan of the fort of Santiago of Manila, in regard to the imprisonment of a soldier of the fort whom the master-of-camp arrested for offenses committed outside of the fort. The castellan demanded the soldier, saying that the jurisdiction over the men of his fort belongs to him, wherever they may commit their offenses. On the other hand, your Majesty makes the master-of-camp of this camp judge in the first instance of all the soldiers in the Filipinas Islands (Terrenate excepted). Therefore the latter declares that he must be judge in the first instance of all the causes which are prosecuted in the island of Hermosa, and in the presidios of Caraga, Cagayan, Zibu, and Oton; and that the commandants there can do no more than to conduct the cause to the point of giving sentence therein, sending it to him so that he may do this. The same is declared by the castellan of the fort of Santiago of this city; but, although it seems that he cites warrant for it, his predecessors have not been wont to exercise it. On the other hand, the castellan alleges that his predecessors have always exercised separate jurisdiction. In regard to the governor of the island of Hermosa and the commandants in the remote provinces, it cannot fail to be a hindrance that they cannot give sentence. Accordingly, I petition your Majesty to have this made clear; and at the same time to decide who is to try in the first instance the illegal acts that the castellan of the fort, the master-of-camp himself, the general of the artillery, and the commander of the galleys may commit. This is not clear, and there may be cases in which such action may be necessary. May God preserve the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty’s humble vassal,
Don Juan Niño de Tavora
III
Ecclesiastical affairs
Sire:
It is three years since the death of the archbishop (who is in glory), and during those years the land has enjoyed peace and harmony between the two jurisdictions—ecclesiastical and secular; for the provisors who have governed in this vacant see have been more learned and more peaceable than was the archbishop. May it please God that it may be the same in the time of Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, to whom your Majesty has granted the favor of this archbishopric.
The latter presented before the cabildo of this cathedral a decree from your Majesty, despatched in the ordinary form, so that the government should be given to him while waiting for the bulls from his Holiness. It is not the said cabildo who governs, but Don Fray Pedro Arce, bishop of Zibu, by virtue of a brief of his Holiness and a decree of your Majesty. They order that during the first three vacancies of this archbishopric (which began to be reckoned from the date of the brief), the cabildo should not govern, but the senior bishop of the islands (who is at present the bishop of Zibu); for it was considered unadvisable for the government to be entrusted to the cabildo for the space of three years—the least time that a vacancy can last here. Upon this occasion the cabildo responded that it could not give to the archbishop-elect the government that it did not possess. The bishop of Zibu says that he cannot leave the government without a special order from your Majesty and from his Holiness, who are the persons who have given it to him. After receiving this reply, the archbishop-elect came on appeal from fuerza to the Audiencia. They, after having thoroughly aired the matter, judged that there was no occasion [for this plea], because the documents lacked some clauses requisite to make them effective, and the cabildo had not committed fuerza. They told the archbishop to prefer his claims before him who had the right [to judge his case]. The good archbishop was desirous of governing, and accordingly, took hold of the affair with too much energy, aided by his natural disposition, which is not so moderate as his dignity demands. He thinks that we are all to blame, and I in particular; accordingly, he shows me little favor. I mention this so that in case that he should write anything against me, your Majesty may be warned, and give no credit to his relation until the proof of it be adduced.