Sande again sends (January, 1579) an expedition to Mindanao and Sulu, under Captain de Ribera, to secure their submission to Spanish authority.  His instructions lay special stress on proper care for the health of the troops.  The tribute desired from Sulu consists of “two or three tame elephants.”  Ribera goes to the Rio Grande of Mindanao, but can accomplish nothing; for the natives, in terror of the Spaniards, have abandoned their villages, fleeing to the mountains.  Ribera erects a fort at the delta of the river, and receives the submission of a few neighboring chiefs; but, as his men are being prostrated by sickness, he obtains from a friendly dato (chief) a list of the Indian villages and their population, with such information as he can gather, and departs—­sending a small detachment of troops to pacify the district of Butuan.  Going to Cavite, Ribera finds there a deputation from Sulu, who bring a little tribute saying that their people have been harassed by famine ever since Figueroa came, a year before, to demand tribute from them.  Finding upon investigation that this story is true, he gives back their tributes, receiving instead a cannon which they had taken from a wrecked Portuguese galley.  Ribera then returns to Cebu.

A royal decree of March 26, 1580, provides for appointments to fill vacant benefices in the cathedral at Manila The new governor, Ronquillo de Penalosa, writes to the king (July 17, 1581), asking whether Manila is to be regarded as his capital and head-quarters, and giving advice in various matters.  Like many such documents, this is endorsed:  “Seen; an answer is unnecessary.”

As some of the Franciscan friars who have come to the Philippines have preferred to labor in China, Penalosa orders (March 2, 1582) that no person shall leave the islands without his permission.  In a letter dated June is of that year, he complains to the king that he has not received the expected reenforcements of men from New Spain; that the Audiencia of that country (in which is now Sande, superseded by Penalosa as governor of the Philippines) meddles with his government and threatens to make trouble for him; and that he needs a competent assistant in his office.  Ternate is now under Spanish control, and Spain monopolizes the rich spice-trade; Panama is the best route therefor.  An “English pirate,” presumably Sir Francis Drake, has been intriguing with the Malays at Ternate, and the post there should be more heavily fortified.  The newly-appointed bishop, Salazar, has arrived; on account of his austerity and his wish to dominate, he is not a favorite with the people.

The Editors

April, 1903.

Documents of 1576-78

    Relation of the Filipinas Islands.  Francisco de Sande; June 7,
    1576.

Relation and description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco de Sande]; June 8, 1577.

    Bull for erection of the diocese of Manila.  Gregory XIII;
    February 6, 1578.