Fray Martin de Rrada

[Endorsed:  “These opinions are to be kept on file, in order that they may be passed upon by the Council.”]

Reply to Fray Rada’s Opinion

Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: 

Replying to the opinion that was given by the father provincial, Fray Martin de Rada, of the order of St. Augustine, on affairs in this land, and on the raising of tribute from its natives, we confess that it was zealously done, in the service of God, our Lord, and for the security of our consciences.  In this estimation we hold and repute him.  But, as sometimes the very wise are misled—­now through too great zeal, and again by their ignorance of some things, which if they had understood fully, they would not have been misled—­we shall not fail to point out in the “Opinion,” certain things which we consider harsh, harmful to this whole community, and very prejudicial to the development of this land.  Taking up the principal point to be answered in the “Opinion”—­namely, that his Majesty was ill informed of the affairs of this land, as thus appears by his letter which Captain Juan de la Ysla brought, we affirm that it is very erroneous.  For what his Majesty says in his letter is the same of which report was made before he wrote it, and the same which was occurring when the report was made of the affairs of this land, and so to say, more clear, public, and notorious—­namely, that the governor (who is now in glory), when he entered this land, entered it in peace, inviting to his friendship all the natives.  Thus in the island of Ybabao which was the first of these Filipinas islands of which possession was taken, Indians came to the ships from the shore, who made friends and rendered obedience to his Majesty.  These came of their own will, to make friends, and at the first, before any bartering of food and other small articles was made, and without anything of their possessions being asked.  The same was done on the river Calayan, where were Captain Andres de Ybarra and father Fray Diego de Herrera.  Peace was made, and nothing was asked or taken from them; and they remained friends.  And although in the island of Ybabao certain Indians treacherously killed there Francisco Gomez and another Spaniard, no war was made upon them for that reason.  Rather the governor was always calling for peace from all the natives of the islands where he went, without making war on anyone.  So in Bohol the chiefs gave their obedience, and came to the ships of their own will.  From that place a contingent was sent to Butuan to make friends with the chief.  Captain Juan de la Ysla and that same father provincial went there and made friends with Limanpao, lord of Butuan.  From there they went to Cubu, where they summoned and from the small boats invited the natives to make peace, proclaiming for two or three days the summons, until those natives shot arrows from the shore at those