The Inhabitants of the Philippines Part 60

1577. War against Mindanao and Jolo, parts of which are occupied. Disputes between the missionaries and the military officers who desire to enrich themselves by enslaving the natives, which the former stoutly oppose, desiring to convert them, and grant them exemption from taxes according to the "Leyes de Indias." They considered the cupidity of the soldiers as the chief obstacle to the conversion of the heathen. The Crown decided in favour of the natives, but they did not derive all the benefits they were ent.i.tled to, as the humane laws were not respected by the governors.

The Franciscans arrived in Manila.

1580. Expedition sent by Gonzalo Ronquillo to Borneo to a.s.sist King Sirela.

1581. Expedition sent by the same to Cagayan to expel a j.a.panese corsair who had established himself there. The expedition succeeded, but with heavy loss.

Expedition against the Igorrotes to get possession of the gold-mines, but without success.

The Jesuits arrive in Manila.

1582. Expedition against the Molucas, under Sebastian Ronquillo. An epidemic destroyed two-thirds of the expedition, which returned without accomplishing anything.

Great disputes between the encomenderos and the friars in consequence of the ill-treatment of the natives by the former. Dissensions between the Bishop of Manila and the friars who refused to submit to his diocesan visit.

Manila burnt down.

1584. Second expedition against the Molucas, with no better luck than the first.

Rebellion of the Pampangos and Manila men, a.s.sisted by some Mahometans from Borneo. Combat between the English pirate, Thomas Schadesh, and Spanish vessels.

Combat between the English adventurer Thomas Cavendish (afterwards Sir Thomas), and Spanish vessels.

1587. The Dominicans arrive in Manila.

1589. Rebellion in Cagayan and other provinces.

1593. Third expedition against the Molucas under Gomez Perez Dasmarinias. He had with him in his galley 80 Spaniards and 250 Chinese galley-slaves. In consequence of contrary winds, his vessel put into a port near Batangas for shelter. In the silence of the night, when the Spaniards were asleep, the galley-slaves arose and killed them all except a Franciscan friar and a secretary. Dasmarinias built the castle of Santiago, and fortified Manila with stone walls, cast a large number of guns, and established the college of Sta. Potenciana.

1596. The galleon which left Manila for Acapulco with rich merchandise, was obliged to enter a j.a.panese port by stress of weather, and was seized by the j.a.panese authorities. The crew were barbarously put to death.

1597. Expedition of Luis Perez Dasmarinias against Cambodia, which gained no advantage.

1598. The Audiencia re-established in Manila, and the bishopric raised to an archbishopric.

Expedition against Mindanao and Jolo, the people from which were committing great devastations in Visayas, taking hundreds of captives.

Much fighting, and many killed on both sides, without any definite result.

1599. Destructive earthquake in Manila and neighbourhood.

1600. Great sea combat between four Spanish ships, commanded by Judge Morga, and two Dutch pirates. One of the Dutchmen was taken, but the other escaped.

Another destructive earthquake on January 7th, and one less violent, but long, in November.

1603. Conspiracy of Eng-Cang and the Chinese against the Spaniards. The Chinese entrench themselves near Manila; Luis Perez Dasmarinias marches against them with 130 Spaniards. They were all killed and decapitated by the Chinese, who then besieged Manila, and attempted to take it by a.s.sault. Being repulsed by the Spaniards, all of whom, including the friars, took up arms, they retired to their entrenchments. They were ultimately defeated, and 23,000 of them were ma.s.sacred. Only 100 were left alive, and these were sent to the galleys as slaves.

1606. The Recollets arrive in Manila.

Fourth expedition against the Molucas. Pedro de Acuna, having received a reinforcement of 800 men--Mexicans and Peruvians--attacked and took Ternate, Tidore, Marotoy and Herrao, with all their artillery and provisions. He left 700 men in garrison there, and returned to Manila, dying a few days after his arrival. The Augustinians furnished a galleon for this expedition. It was commanded by the Rev. Father Antonio Flores.

1607. Revolt of the j.a.panese living in and near Manila, and heavy losses on both sides.

1609. Arrival of Juan de Silva with five companies of Mexican and Peruvian infantry. Attack on Manila by a Dutch squadron of five vessels. They were beaten off with the loss of three of their ships.

1610. Unsuccessful expedition against Java. This was to have been a combined attack on the Dutch by Portuguese and Spaniards, but the Spanish squadron did not arrive in time to join their allies, who were beaten by the Dutch fleet in the Straits of Malacca.

Terrific earthquake in Manila and the eastern provinces.

1616. Violent eruption of the Mayon volcano.

1622. Revolt of the natives in Bohol, Leyte and Cagayan, which were easily suppressed.

1624. The Dutch landed on Corregidor Island, but were beaten off.

1627. August. Great earthquake.

1628. Destructive earthquake in Camarines.

1638. Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera makes an attack on the Moros of Mindanao, and conquers the Sultanate of Buhayen and island of Basilan. He also defeats the Joloans.

1639. Insurrection of Chinese in the province of Laguna and in Manila. Out of 30,000, 7000 ultimately surrendered. All the rest were ma.s.sacred by the Tagals.

1640. The Dutch attacked the Spanish garrisons in Mindanao and Jolo. The governor-general, fearing they might attack Manila, withdrew the garrisons from the above places to strengthen his own defences, thus leaving the Moros masters of both islands.

1641. Eruption of the Taal volcano. Violent earthquake in Ilocos.

1645. The Dutch attacked Cavite and other ports, but were repulsed.

Rebellion of the Moros in Jolo, and of the natives of Cebu and other provinces, who were oppressed by forced labour in building vessels, and other services.

In these years there were great disputes between the Spaniards of the capital and the friars.

Great earthquake in Manila, 30th November, called St. Andrew's earthquake.

1646. Long series of strong earthquakes, which began in March with violent shocks, and lasted for sixty days.

1648. Great earthquakes in Manila.

1653. Great devastations by the Moros of Mindanao, which were severely punished.

Rebellion in Pampanga and Pangasinan against being forced to cut timber gratuitously for the navy. Suppressed after a serious resistance.

1658. Destructive earthquake in Manila and Cavite.

1662. The Chinese pirate, Cong-seng, demands tribute from the Governor of the Philippines. A decree is issued ordering all Chinamen to leave the Philippines. The Chinese entrench themselves in the Parian, and resist. Thousands were killed, and 2000 who marched into Pampanga were all ma.s.sacred by the natives.

Great troubles occurred between the governor, Diego de Salcedo, and the archbishop.