That island of Mindanao is the farthest of the Filipinas Islands, and is about twenty leguas from Cibu.  That part that faces Cibu is pacified, and the Indians pay tribute, and there are a number of Christians.  The entire island formerly rendered homage to your Majesty.  It extends east and west, being somewhat inclined to the northeast and southwest.  It is more than three hundred leguas in circumference.  The southern part lies in six degrees of north latitude.  It has many gold mines, as those say who have seen them, although they are but little worked, and many cinnamon trees and much civet.

Captain Estevan Rodriquez de Figueroa went to pacify it in 1596 at his own cost, with the title of governor and captain-general of the island conceded by your Majesty.  But he was so unfortunate that, the first time when he set foot on land, he was killed by an Indian concealed in ambush.  Captain Juan de la Xara, who was master-of-camp, continued the enterprise; but as he, like his master, died, the whole enterprise was destroyed by accidents that came upon them.  Consequently, not only were the natives not pacified, but more angered and desirous of vengeance.  For that reason, they began to build vessels and to make inroads among those islands during the term of Don Francisco Tello, to commit depredations.  They captured many Indians and their wealth (for the latter had considerable gold) through the fault of the captains and alcaldes-mayor who were governing those islands, and were not punished for it.  And although punishment is one of the two arms of justice that preserves states, there has been so great lack of it in Manila, that signal injuries have thereby resulted.

The Moros became excited by those captures, and through the exercise of war they became more skilful and daring.  To such a height has their boldness reached, through the carelessness and neglect of the governors, that all those islands have been destroyed and ruined.  They could very well have been restrained, but the reasons why they neglected to do that cannot be explained here, because the case in hand demands that many things be passed by; but if your Majesty cares to know, I will explain them.

Those Indians [i.e., the Moros] are so vile and cowardly that they have never engaged in close combat with the Spaniards, very few of whom have dared to resist vast multitudes; yet the Moros have inflicted signal injuries.  The worst is that these last few years they have committed greater ones, so that there is no Christian or friendly Indian who is safe in his house or country.  These, although Indians, set forth arguments that must have shamed your Majesty’s governors considerably; since, although the latter are so careful not only to collect their tributes, but to impose continually so many taxes, and to cause the Indians innumerable troubles, yet they do not defend them from their enemies.  Consequently the Indians say, “Let us be free, and let us have