History of the Philippine Islands (Vol. 1&2). Joaquín Martínez De Zúñiga
The General however, in consequence of this, ordered the whole to be destroyed, and built a fort, which at once checked all further attempts. As yet, Legaspi kept on the defensive, expecting that Tupas would soon arrive, with whom he was desirous of being in amity, with a view to the conquest of the island by fair means. After repeated messages he at last appeared, accompanied by another chief, called Tamayan. Legaspi received them with cordiality, treated them handsomely, and, in the name of his sovereign, forgave the treachery, they had been guilty of towards Magellan. They made many excuses for their conduct, and promised that in three days they would return, with all the principal people, and establish a friendly intercourse with the Spaniards. These people will readily promise, whatever is demanded of them, but without any intention of performing their promise. Tupas, though King of the island, did not appear better entitled to respect, than any of the rest, and thought nothing of breaking his word, always, however, making some excuse on the succeeding visit.
Notwithstanding the peaceable demeanor of the Indians, the General ordered, that no one should be permitted to quit the camp, as he apprehended an ambuscade, which might have a fatal issue. This, in fact, happened to Pedro de Arana, one of Legaspi's aides-de-camp, who, disregarding this order, passed the lines alone with his gun, and before he was able to save himself, he was run through with a lance, and his head cut off, and carried on board a parao, which was lying at a little distance. The General felt the loss of Pedro de Arana much, and gave orders to the Colonel, to chastise the insolence of the Indians, and reduce them. Whilst the Colonel was employed in this expedition, the General, who had been accustomed to sleep on board ship, determined to pass his nights on shore in future, through some distrust he entertained, of the officers of the navy, and ordered, that his aides-de-camp should keep guard over him. They did not relish the thoughts of this, persuading themselves, they would be degraded, by obeying the orders. The day following therefore, at a general review of the force, Pedro Mena, in the name of the whole, came forward, and, with very little ceremony, intimated that they would not keep guard, as it was the duty of the privates. The Colonel reprehended them sharply, suspended them, and struck them out of the list of aids-de-camp of the General. This punishment for their insolence, though fully merited, exasperated them to such a degree, that they set fire to their tents, and had nearly burnt all the effects belonging to his Majesty. The principal perpetrators of this crime, were Pedro de Mena, and Terresan, who were executed the following day, and by this act, the subordination of the rest was secured.
The ship Capitana, was by this time prepared, for her voyage to New Spain. Her commander was Phelipe de Salcedo, grandson of the General; and there went in her, the friars Andres de Urdaneta, to conduct her to New Spain, and Martin de Aguirre, to solicit assistance for the conversion of these islanders. They sailed from Zebu on the 1st of June, 1565, and reaching the 36th degree of latitude, in search of the north-west winds, they directed their course to Puerto de la Natividad, where they arrived, after a four months voyage; but considering the distance of this port from Mexico, they pushed forwards to Acapulco, which was nearer, and they arrived there on the 30th of October. In Mexico, their arrival occasioned much exultation, as they were considered to be lost, by the accounts which had been given, by the Captain Arellano and the pilot Lope Martin, who, three months before, had arrived at Puerto de la Natividad. The friars Urdaneta and Aguirre went to Madrid, where they met with Arellano, who was soliciting a reward, for the discovery of the track from the Philippines to New Spain. He had persisted in his pretensions, till the arrival of these friars, when he altered his tone; he was put in confinement, and ordered to Mexico, to be from thence sent to Manila, to be punished by Legaspi as his conduct deserved. The Mexicans, however, were of opinion, that he should not be sent to Manila, until the death of Legaspi was ascertained. The friars Urdaneta and Aguirre, having favourably completed their mission, embarked for Mexico, where Urdaneta died on the 3d of June, 1568, in the 70th year of his age.
CHAPTER V.
ANNO DOM. 1565.
Of the complete Conquest of the Island of Zebu, and of some Towns in other Islands.
The day following that, on which the Capitana sailed, a Moor of Borneo, called Cid Hamal, established in this island, arrived in our camp. He recommended it to the General, to invite Tupas to a conference; and upon this being done, he accordingly presented himself a second time, with some of the chief men of the island, and the conference terminated, in their resolution to preserve a good understanding with the Spaniards. They paid homage to the king of Spain, promising, that the squadron should be supplied with provisions, at the price usual among themselves, and granting land, and every means of founding a Spanish city, with fortifications for its defence. Amity thus restored, the Indians began to re-build their town, and a very short time, exhibited the pleasing sight, of the individuals of two different nations, establishing themselves at a little distance from each other.
The Zebuans lost all apprehensions of the Spaniards, and came to their town to sell fruit, goats, and provisions. Among the least reserved was Tupas, who, under the pretext of accompanying other chiefs, visited the General, making him presents; and so contrived that his women should visit him likewise, dressing themselves in rich clothes, with ear-rings and bracelets of gold on the feet and arms, and accompanied by a great concourse of men and women; which visit was not ill received, the General always treating them handsomely. Tupas likewise, gave Legaspi his niece, who was a widow, and other women to attend him. The General directed them to be instructed in the Christian doctrine, and they embraced our religion, and were baptized. The niece of Tupas, had the name of Isabel given her, in memory of the deceased lady of the General, whose name this was, and in a little time she was married to Maestre Andrea, an officer of the squadron.
The provisions which they had in the island of Zebu, were not sufficient for the Indians and their numerous guests; in consequence of which, Legaspi directed Tupas, to send two chiefs to the island of Panay, to purchase rice. Whilst these men were on their mission, the Spaniards sailed, in vessels which they had constructed at Zebu, on an expedition against some towns, belonging to the enemies of the Zebuans, and were enabled to send some rice to those in the camp. The Moors likewise of the island of Luçon, who came for commercial purposes to Zebu, sold them two hundred baskets of this grain; but as the return of the two ships which had gone to Panay, was still delayed beyond the expected time, Legaspi was compelled to put every man on an allowance, which produced great discontent among the people, and some even adopted the resolution of escaping with the patache San Juan, with the intention of lying in wait behind the islands, to rob the small barks that came there for commerce, and with their spoils to retire to France. The authors of this conspiracy were Pablo Hernandez and Juan Maria Venecianos; and they were joined in it by the pilot Francis Pierres Plin, Jorge el Griego, Maestre Andrea, the husband of Tupas's niece, Geronimo Foxa, and some foreigners. They fixed on the 26th of November, 1565, for their undertaking, intending previously to endeavour to disable all the ships, in order that they might not be pursued. It pleased Heaven to retard their scheme one day beyond the time fixed, and Juan Maria Venecianos repenting of his treason, discovered the conspiracy to Colonel Matheo del Sauz. The conspirators were immediately all apprehended, except Pablo Hernandez, who escaped into the country among the Indians. The whole underwent an examination, and Legaspi ordered that Francis Pierres Plin, and Jorge el Griego, should be hanged by break of day. It was his intention to have followed up the punishment of the conspirators, and he was proceeding to hang Maestre Andrea. The clergy, however, entreated him to pardon him, on account of his near relationship to Tupas, to which he assented. Pablo Hernandez, pressed by hunger, was compelled to deliver himself up, and as he was the ringleader, he was executed in the middle of the day by proclamation, and his head placed on a pole, as a warning to others. A pardon was granted to all the rest in the name of the King, and by this due mixture of severity and lenity, the minds of the General and the friars were tranquillized.
Famine, at this time, was likely to be the lot of the Spaniards, as the chiefs who had been sent to Panay had not appeared; and as six more paraos had been despatched for the same purpose, it was apprehended that they had entered into a combination with the first, to reduce the Spaniards by famine. In this situation, Captain Martin de Goite set sail, with the intention of taking