The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 278 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 278 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55.
fleet were coming ashore.  The said governor ordered the master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti, to go to see what was wanted.  The said Portuguese—­immediately, and before the expiration of the time-limit set by the said captain-general, and without waiting for any response to be given—­those of the said galleys and fustas, began to batter down the said gabions with a great number of guns; and they continued this almost until sunset.  Nevertheless, the said governor ordered that no one should discharge any artillery at them from his camp; on the contrary, he reproved an artilleryman who, without his permission, discharged one gun.  While the said Portuguese were demolishing the said gabions, the said governor sent the said answer to the said captain-general, complaining that he was commencing and making unjust war, against all reason and without the said governor having given any occasion for it.  Not only did the Portuguese not relax at all but sent part of his galleys and fustas to blockade the other entrance to this harbor, which lies toward the east, so that nothing can enter or leave this camp.  The governor declared that the said Portuguese have said and published that through famine they will seize and carry us away prisoners, by force.  In order that the manner in which the said captain-general and his men commenced to make war—­and they began it, as is related hereafter—­may be manifest both now and in the future, he said that he asked me, the said notary, as he did, to certify these facts to all the aforesaid in public form, in such wise that witness may be had for the protection of the rights of his Majesty, and of himself in the king’s royal name.  All those who were present he ordered to witness it, and signed it with his name.

I, the said Fernando Riquel, chief notary aforesaid certify to whomsoever shall see this present, or copies of it drawn up in public form, that on yesterday, Wednesday in the morning, the twentieth of this said month, I, having gone by the order of his lordship the said governor to the flagship where the said captain-general Gonzalo de Pereira was, to take him a certain answer to a requisition sent by the said captain-general to the said governor, the said captain-general sent an oral message through me, the said notary, and the factor, Andres de Mirandaola, to the said governor, to the effect that, if on the evening of that day the gabions on the river of Cubu were not ordered to be demolished, he would consider war declared.  With this message we came from the said ship.  Almost at high noon, and after dinner, I, being in the said governor’s room, despatching certain messages which the said governor had to send to the said captain-general, we heard a heavy fire of artillery.  It was reported to the said governor that the Portuguese, in fustas and galleys, were attacking and firing upon the river of Cubu, where there were certain works and soldiers from this camp.  The said governor ordered that no artillery should be fired from this

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 03 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.