Doctor Don Juan Cevicos

DOCUMENTS OF 1628-1629

Relation of 1627-28. [Unsigned]; July, 1628.  Report of appointments made by the governor.  Juan Nino de Tavora; August 2, 1628.  Letters to Felipe IV.  Juan Nino de Tavora; August 4, 1628.  Economic reasons for suppressing the silk trade of China in Spain and its colonies.  Juan Velazquez Madrco; October 7, 1628.  Decrees regarding the Chinese.  Felipe IV; June, 1628-March, 1629.  Relations of 1628-29.  Hernando Estrado, and others; 1628-29.

Sources:  Most of these documents are from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, The first one is from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library); the fifth, from the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; and the last, from MSS. in the Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid.

Translations:  The second of these documents is translated by Robert W. Haight; the second part of the last, by Arthur B. Myrick; all the rest, by James A. Robertson.

RELATION OF 1627-28

Copy of a relation-written by a father of this residence of Manila on the condition of these Filipinas Islands, and other surrounding kingdoms and provinces, from the month of July, 1627, until that of 1628.

In the port of Cavite, which lies three leguas away from and opposite the city of Manila, four very fine galleons were being equipped, that in size and strength could compare with the best in the world.  For the flagship was the “Concepcion;” for almiranta, the “Santa Teresa;” while the other two were called “San Yldefonso” and the “Pena de Francia.”  Besides these there was another smaller ship called the “Rosario,” and two other pataches and two galleys.  The work was progressing rapidly; for as soon as the merchant ships that sail to Nueva Espana were despatched, our people had to begin their voyage to the island of Hermosa near China, in order to dislodge the Dutch who were fortifying themselves there. [42] That might result in notable damage to this city of Manila, and to Macao, by obstructing their trade with China, Japon, and other kingdoms.  The food, ammunition, and artillery were already embarked, and many implements of war, in order to carry on the war by sea and land.  On July 7. they began to lade the flagship with quantities of tiling which it was also necessary to take.  But, burdened with the great weight, the flagship showed that it was not to make the voyage; for it commenced to leak so badly that it could not be kept pumped out.  Consequently, it was necessary to unlade it, and they had to resolve to leave it behind in the port, to their great sorrow.