The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 | Page 3

as
early as October, 1562. Legazpi in a letter to the king (May 26, 1563)
accepts the responsibility placed upon him, and asks for certain favors.
Velasco explains (February 25 and June 15, 1564) the delays in the
fleet's departure; he hopes that it will be ready to sail by the following
September, and describes its condition and equipment. Velasco's death
(July 31) makes it necessary for the royal Audiencia of Mexico to
assume the charge of this enterprise. Their instructions to Legazpi
(September 1, 1564) are given in considerable detail. Especial stress is
laid on the necessity of discovering a return route from the Philippines;
and Urdaneta is ordered to return with the ships sent back to New Spain
for this purpose. By a letter dated September 12, the members of the
Audiencia inform the king of the instructions they have given to
Legazpi, and their orders that he should direct his course straight to the
Philippines, which they regard as belonging to Spain rather than
Portugal. In this same year, Juan de la Carrión, recently appointed
admiral of the fleet, writes to the king, dissenting (as does the
_Audiencia_) from Urdaneta's project for first exploring New Guinea,
and urging that the expedition ought to sail directly to the Philippines.
He says that he has been, however, overruled by Urdaneta. Legazpi
announces to the king (November 18) his approaching departure from
the port of Navidad; and Urdaneta writes a letter of similar tenor two
days later. On that date (November 20) they leave port; and on the
twenty-fifth Legazpi alters their course so as to turn it from the
southwest directly toward the Philippines. This displeases the
Augustinian friars on board; but they consent to go with the fleet. After
various difficulties and mistakes in reckoning, they reach the Ladrones
(January 22, 1565), finally anchoring at Guam. The natives prove to be
shameless knaves and robbers, and treacherously murder a Spanish boy;
in retaliation, their houses are burned and three men hanged by the
enraged Spaniards. Legazpi takes formal possession of the islands for
Spain. Proceeding to the Philippines, they reach Cebú on February 13,
and thence make various journeys among the islands. They are
suffering from lack of food, which they procure in small quantities, and
with much difficulty, from the natives--often meeting from them,

however, armed hostility. A Spanish detachment succeeds in capturing
a Moro junk, after a desperate engagement; its crew are set at liberty,
and then become very friendly to the strangers, giving them much
interesting information about the commerce of those regions. Finally
the leaders of the expedition decide to make a settlement on the island
of Cebu. It is captured (April 28) by an armed party; they find in one of
the houses an image, of Flemish workmanship, of the child Jesus,
which they regard as a valuable prize, and an auspicious omen for their
enterprise. The fort is built, and a church erected; and a nominal peace
is concluded with the natives, but their treachery is displayed at every
opportunity.
On May 28, 1565, the officials of the Western Islands write a report of
their proceedings to the Audiencia of New Mexico. They have
ascertained that the hostility of the natives arises from the cruelty and
treachery of the Portuguese, who in Bohol perfidiously slew five
hundred men and carried away six hundred prisoners. The Spaniards
ask for immediate aid of soldiers and artillery with which to maintain
their present hold, and to relieve the destitution which threatens them.
They advise the speedy conquest of the islands, for in no other way can
trade be carried on, or the Christian religion be propagated.
Another account of the expedition is given by Esteban Rodriguez, pilot
of the fleet; it contains some interesting additional details. On June 1,
1565, the ship "San Pedro" is despatched to New Spain with letters to
the authorities, which are in charge of the two Augustinian friars,
Urdaneta and Aguirre. The log of the voyage kept by the pilot Espinosa
is briefly summarized. When they reach the coast of Lower California
the master of the vessel and Esteban Rodriguez, the chief pilot, perish
from disease. The ship reaches Navidad on October 1, and Acapulco on
the eighth, "after all the crew bad endured great hardships." Of the two
hundred and ten persons who had sailed on the "San Pedro," sixteen
died on the voyage, and less than a score were able to work when they
arrived at Acapulco, all the rest being sick.
The previous record of the expedition is now continued. Legazpi makes
a treaty with the chiefs of Cebú, who acknowledge the king of Spain as
their suzerain. Gradually the natives regain their confidence in the
Spaniards, return to their homes, and freely trade with the foreigners.
Legazpi