Joan Ochoa Ttabudo

Before me: 

Alonso Beltran, his Majesty’s notary

[Following this are depositions taken from four other men, two of them natives of Borneo.  The testimonies of all are very similar to the foregoing, and show the policy of the king of Borneo.  One testimony declares that the king was wont to make the rich and influential men who might land at his island captains, in order to retain their wealth.  The document continues:]

[Letter to the king of Borneo.]

I, Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor and captain-general for his Majesty in these islands and districts of the West, by order of his Majesty, the king of Castilla and Leon, my sovereign, Don Ffelipe, the greatest king and most powerful sovereign in the world, send this letter by these messengers to you, Outardo Soltan Lixar, king of Borney, so that you may know my will, and what I require.

You know already how I, with the other captains and soldiers of the Castilians live, by order of the king, our sovereign, in Manila, in the island of Lucon, in Cubu, and in other districts.  There in Manila, Cubu, and other districts it has been rumored that you have tried and are trying to do us harm, and to make war upon us; that you have tried to induce and have solicited the natives of Lucon and other districts to rebel and revolt against us; that you have sent spies to Cubu and other districts; that you have left your residence for this purpose of warring against us with a fleet of ships.  All these things are without any reason, and I know not what is the cause therefor; for my will is good and I desire to show naught but good to all, and ill to none.  Since I am proceeding to confer with you openly and publicly, I notify you that I am not coming to plunder or to harm you, but to prove of use to you; for the king, my sovereign, orders thus, and accordingly I gladly notify you that I am going to you.  My sovereign, the king of Castilla, spends his money through us, the Castilians, and sends us into all parts of the world, in order that we might proclaim the law of the true God.  For this purpose I came hither; and now I am going to confer with you, chiefly that you may know your God and Creator, and to teach you the true law.  I wish to do you no ill, nor to seize your possessions; on the contrary, if you are our friend, I will aid and defend you, according to the orders of the king, my sovereign.  To this end I offer you peace and friendship on our part, in such wise, that there may be mutual security, on both sides, to go and to come, to see one another, to trade and traffic, as is usual among friends.

What you are to do is to admit preachers of the holy gospel, who may preach the law of the Christians in your lands in all security; and likewise that any person whatever of your country may have entire liberty and permission to attend the preaching of the law of the Christians, and that he who wishes to become a Christian may do so without any ill befalling him.