The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55.

As has already been said, the reason for the coming of these Indians to inflict the said damage was the command to take away your Majesty’s camp from the said land of Mindanao.  But the cause for their having wrought those injuries after they arrived was, as was said at the beginning, that the order and decree of your Majesty was not obeyed.  For your Majesty had in this camp four captains of infantry with the four hundred soldiers which your Majesty had commanded to be left there as a garrison, and the said captains were satisfactory persons; and it was ordered that there should be no more than the said four captains there, as any more would be superfluous, since there were so few soldiers.  Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, has reached such arrogance and restlessness of mind, caused by his having wrought so many injuries to this afflicted commonwealth through the power and authority which he has, both in general and in particular, to many citizens thereof; but, with his customary facility for speaking ill to some one’s prejudice, he escapes, without anyone daring to speak of the matter.  In the little time which he had spent in this country, he found himself rich and powerful through his trading and commerce.  Accordingly he commenced to procure taking away the employments and offices from soldiers and men of war whom your Majesty has here, and appropriated them to himself and his relations.  Thus, contrary to the said limitation of number, and in violation of what your Majesty commands by your ordinances and decrees—­namely, that offices of profit shall not be given to the auditors, or to their kindred, servants, or dependents—­Governor Don Francisco Tello appointed, as alcalde-mayor of the island of Mindoro, a certain Pedro Cotelo de Morales, a first cousin of the wife of the said Doctor Morga, who came with the latter to these islands; and passed by, in giving it, many of the conquerors and poor settlers.  But the said Doctor Morga would not accept this, saying that he would have no appointment for him unless it was a paid captaincy.  The man was a mere youth, and in all his life had never fired an arquebus, and was not skilled or experienced in war.  On the contrary, he had led a very evil life, which cannot be fittingly described to your Majesty, and so is left unsaid.  Accordingly, to give some color to what he desired to do, and in order that he might not appear to be exceeding the said number of four captains, the said governor appointed this man captain of infantry, so that he could go out of this city to the said Pintados provinces, where they were in fear that the said enemies were going.  He was assigned the regular salary for a captain, and in like manner the other officers of his company were established with pay; and they likewise were men of the same way of life and the same amount of experience in war as the said Pedro Cotelo.  He went with the troops to the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jhesus, which is in the said provinces

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 11 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.