History of the Philippine Islands, vols 1 and 2 | Page 9

the
shore of the Cadiz Sea, which were afterward cast down by the strong
arm of Cárlos V, [4] our sovereign, who surpassed Hercules in great
deeds and enterprises.
After the islands had been conquered by the sovereign light of the holy
gospel which entered therein, the heathen were baptized, the darkness
of their paganism was banished, and they changed their own for
Christian names. The islands also, losing their former name, took--with
the change of religion and the baptism of their inhabitants--that of
Filipinas Islands, in recognition of the great favors received at the
hands of his Majesty Filipo the Second, our sovereign, in whose
fortunate time and reign they were conquered, protected, and
encouraged, as a work and achievement of his royal hands.
Their discovery, conquest, and conversion were not accomplished
without great expenditure, labor, and Spanish blood, with varying
success, and amid dangers: these things render the work more
illustrious, and furnish a spacious field of which historians may treat,
for such is their office. Certainly the subject matter is not scanty, and
contains both serious and pleasant elements sufficient to be worthy of
attention, so that it will not depreciate historians to treat of Indian
occurrences and wars, which those who have not experienced
undervalue. For the people of those regions are valiant and warlike
nations of Asia, who have been reared in continual warfare, both by sea
and by land, and who use artillery and other warlike implements, which
the necessity of defending themselves against great and powerful
neighboring kingdoms, taught them to use skilfully; and--although
somewhat imperfectly--they have gained dexterity and have completed
their education in the school of España, which recently brought war to
their gates--thus sharing the experience of other provinces of Europe,

who also had formerly been ignorant and careless of the use of arms.
Some painstaking persons, to whom--for lack of time and means--I
have given and delivered many papers and relations which I possessed,
have planned to write this history; and I hope that they will publish it in
better shape than the fragmentary histories which we have hitherto
received from some contemporary historians. [5]
I spent eight years in the Filipinas Islands, the best years of my life,
serving continuously as lieutenant of the governor and captain-general,
and, as soon as the royal Audiencia of Manila was established, in the
office of auditor, which I was the first to fill. [6] And desirous that the
affairs of those islands should be known, especially those which
occurred during my connection with them, I have related these matters
in a book of eight chapters, tracing them from their origin so far as was
necessary. The first seven chapters contain an account of the
discoveries, conquests, and other events in the islands and neighboring
kingdoms and provinces, which occurred during the time of the
proprietary governors [7] until the death of Don Pedro de Acuña. The
eighth and last chapter contains a brief summary and account of the
nature of these regions, their inhabitants, the manner of governing and
converting them, and other details; moreover, it treats of the
acquaintance, dealings, and intercourse which they maintain with their
neighboring islands and pagan communities. As fearful am I for the
imperfections which will be found in this work, as I am persuaded that
they deserve forgiveness, since my design and chief intent has been to
give each one his due and to present the truth without hatred or flattery,
which has been injured in some current narratives. [8] The latter is a
fault to be severely reproved in those who relate the deeds of others,
inasmuch as it was prohibited by a penal law which Cato and Marcius,
tribunes of the Roman people, established for those who, in relating
their own deeds, overstepped the truth--although this seemed less
worthy of punishment, on account of the self-love which intervenes in
such a case.
There will not be wanting some person who will point out my
oversights, but I shall have already answered him by confessing them;
and should this not suffice to silence him, I shall stop up my ears like
another Ulysses, and--considering the haste with which I have
written--endure this inconvenience and difficulty, desiring only to

please and serve whomsoever may read it; and this will be sufficient to
protect me from greater dangers.
Notice is given that
In reading this history, one may find certain words--names of provinces,
towns, magistrates, arms, and vessels--which it has seemed more
suitable to write by their usual names in those regions. In the last
chapter, which contains an account of the islands and their peculiarities,
these words will be explained and defined.

¶ Of the first discoveries of the eastern islands; the voyage thither by
Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; the conquest and pacification of