The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 302 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 302 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55.

The captured Spaniards were taken to the court of the king, which is a city more than twice as large as Sevilla. [29] They were led manacled through the streets, receiving many blows, and regarded as traitors.  That happened in the year 1624.  This disastrous event was learned in Manila by way of Macan, but no attention was given to the matter on account of the death of Governor Don Alonso Fajardo.  In the year 1625, another Don Fernando de Silva, of the habit of Santiago, came to act as governor.  At that time Father Pedro Morejon [30] arrived at Manila.  He came from Roma by way of Yndia and Camboja (which lies next Siam), and was informed of that disaster there.  Governor Don Fernando de Silva, seeing that Father Pedro Morejon, as he had been so long a minister in Japon, had great knowledge of, and access to, the Japanese, and that those Japanese who live in Siam have a great part in the government of that kingdom, suggested to the father to go there as ambassador, to see whether he could get what they had captured from our Spaniards, which belonged for the most part to the inhabitants of Manila.  The father replied that he could not neglect, before all else, to go to Macan in order to advise his provincial of his procuratorship to Roma; but that his Lordship should write to him, and that he would return at the beginning of the year 1626, which was the season when one could go to Siam.  The governor wrote, and the father provincial of Macan sent Father Pedro de Morejon for the said time, besides another Portuguese father, called Antonio Cardin. [31] They reached here in good time.  The governor prepared a vessel with some Spaniards of good standing, and despatched them all by the month of January.  They reached the kingdom and court of Siam and negotiated what they were able—­namely, that the captives be delivered to them, as well as the artillery, and a quantity of iron belonging to our king which the ships were carrying, and which they seized from us, and some other merchandise.  For although the king ordered everything to be given up, thinking that the goods were safe, as he had ordered, it was impossible to get them, the soldiers having pillaged them and divided them among themselves.

Father Pedro de Morejon was given a cordial reception by the king, who showed him many favors.  At his departure the father told the king that he was leaving Father Cardin in his kingdom, and asked his Highness to protect him.  The king offered to do so, and gave permission for all who wished to become Christians.  Father Cardin erected his church and commenced his ministry.  Father Morejon and the Spaniards returned to Manila, where they arrived in August of 1626; and they delivered to Governor Don Juan Nino, who had now arrived, a present given to them by the king of Siam.  Father Morejon, being summoned by his provincial, went to Macao for the second time, where he is now.  It is now reported that the governor is not satisfied with what they sent him.  Perhaps he will attack Siam with the galleys, in order to punish that kingdom for its actions toward the Spaniards.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.