Part 19
Don Sebastian Urtado de Corcuera, knight of the Habit of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of these Philipinas Islands and president of the royal Audiencia herein, etc. Inasmuch as by a clause of a letter from his Majesty dated San Martin de la Vega, April twenty-nine, one thousand five hundred and seventy-seven, directed to the governor of these islands, it is ordered that, as it is so fitting and necessary, as he has been informed, a convalescent ward be established where the poor soldiers who served in these islands may be cared for and entertained when convalescing after having left their treatment in the hospital; and that he shall maintain and supply it by assigning one thousand Indians as an aid to the support of the hospital, or as shall seem best to him. That, as is well known, has not been done; and no effort has been made to fulfil the royal will in so many years, although this enterprise is so useful to the community. On the contrary, it has been the cause of many wrongs, as experience demonstrates; for, by not having had the said convalescent ward, so many soldiers, sailors, and other poor wretches have died by reason of lacking care and comfort when they recover from their illness. And great disorders have been and are caused with such sick when they leave the said hospital with little health and strength--some returning to their own houses, and some to those of others, where because of the little or no comfort, and the poor and injurious food, with wine, tobacco, buyo, and other similar things, and the continual temptations to associate with women of evil life, they relapse, so that their sickness has no cure. These having been examined by me and certified to me, in order to check these evils, and to comply with what his Majesty ordered so many years ago but which has not been done, and as it is so pious a work in itself, and for the service of our Lord and the good of the community: I have resolved to establish a convalescent ward near the royal hospital for the Spaniards of this city of Manila. And [it shall be] incorporated with the same [hospital] because there is no other place where it can be established--so that in it may be treated, entertained, and entirely cured, the sick of the hospital. These, without leaving the hospital, may pass from the sick wards to the convalescent ward, where they will be treated and entertained as well as possible from the proceeds of one thousand two hundred tributes of encomienda, which I have assigned and given to the said ward in his Majesty's name in the province of Pampanga, in the encomienda of Macabebe, which became vacant because of the end and death of Don Nicolas de Rivera, who possessed it for the last generation. The building of the said room and ward has been begun for more than two months; and the foundations are laid in some parts by order of Captain Santiago de Gastelu, citizen and regidor of this city. I entrust its work to him, as he is a competent person. He has represented to me that, in order that he may continue the work to the completion that is required, and with the divisions and pantries that are necessary for its service, it is advisable that he tear down a small old house, with some cells, that are built close to the said work in the said hospital. There live the discalced fathers of St. Francis, who have attended and attend to the hospital. The men cannot continue further with the work because the said old work is in the way, and because it is necessary to make the foundations alike all over. As the said religious are there, he could not begin to tear it down; while there was no place where the said religious could be accommodated in the said hospital because of its small capacity; nor was there room for the physician, surgeon, barber, steward, and apothecary, who are the persons who must live within. And likewise the house where the apothecary-shop is located, and where the apothecary and steward live, he must tear down in order to proceed with the said work. Likewise he must do the same and tear down the church of the hospital in order to make there a low living-room and an infirmary, where the soldiers of the Pampanga nation who fall sick in this camp of Manila may be treated and cared for, as they have no other place for it. A church is not necessary in the said hospital, because another one for the infantry is being built, as quickly as possible, next to the royal palace in the Plaza de Armas, where all those who die in the said hospital will be carried for burial. To say mass, confess, and console the sick in the hospital, they will be attended by the regimental chaplain, to whom it properly belongs. His Majesty has assigned a special pay for that here. Consequently, the said religious can be dispensed with and are not necessary, since they neither confess those who go there, nor attend to anything else that is important. Therefore, the father-provincial of the Order of St. Francis shall withdraw the religious (both priests and lay-brothers) who are in the said hospital; and shall take them to his convent, since it is within the walls of the city, and is capacious enough for them and for many others. There they will live with all comfort, care, and shelter, as is fitting, as it is advisable for the service of God and the welfare of the community that the work and quarters be continued where the said convalescents and soldiers of the Pampanga nation may be treated. By this act he ordered the said Captain Santiago de Gastelu that the work be immediately proceeded with, tearing down the said room and church and all else that seemed necessary for the said purpose, as quickly as possible, since he has been given money for the said work and building. In order that the aforesaid might be done, the said captain Santiago de Gastelu shall be notified. By this act, accordingly, he issued this command, and signed it. The government secretary, or another public or royal notary, will notify the aforesaid, and the said father provincial, so that what is ordered by this act may be fulfilled. Manila, March five, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
Sevastian Hurtado de Corcuera Francisco de Ortega
_Notification_. In the city of Manila, on the eighth day of the month of March, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six, I, the notary, read and notified the order and act of this paper, as is contained therein, to Captain Santiago de Gastelu, regidor of this city, in his own person. He said that he heard it; and I attest the same.
Alonso Mendez de Almada, royal notary of mines and registers.
_Notification_. In the town of San Pa[b]lo, on the tenth of March, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six, I, the notary, read and notified the said act and order of this paper, as is contained therein, to father Fray Jeronimo del Espiritu Santo, provincial of the order of the discalced religious of St. Francis of these islands. He said that he heard it, and that he would talk with the said governor concerning the matter. I attest the same, witnesses being Alferez Diego Salgado Colmenero and Matheo Mexia.
Alonso Men[d]ez de Almada, royal notary of mines and registers.
Collated with the originals, which are in possession of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, governor and captain-general of these islands and president of the royal Audiencia herein, and to which I refer. In order that this might be evident, I gave the present, authorizing it in public form at his petition, and gave it the authentication which takes the place of law. As witnesses at its examination, copying, correcting, and collation were Simon Delgado, Jhoan Correa, and Francisco Gomez, here present.
In testimony of law, I have affixed my seal:
Augustin de Valenzuela, notary-public.
In the public service; fees dispensed with; I attest it.
We, the undersigned notaries, certify that Agustin de Valenzuela, before whom passed this authorization, and who signed and sealed this copy, is notary-public of the port of Cavite; and as such, entire faith and credit have been and are given, in and out of court, to the acts, copies, and other despatches which have passed and pass before him. In order that this might be evident, we gave the present, July five, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
Alonso Baeza del Rio, notary-public. Alonso Mendez de Almada, notary-public and clerk of registers.
_Money deducted from pay of soldiers and sailors as alms for the hospital_
We, the official judges of the royal treasury of these Filipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, certify that, by virtue of an order of the governor and captain-general, Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, there has been and is deducted from [the pay of] the soldiers of this camp, in the settling of their accounts that has been made and is being made from the first of July of the past year of one thousand six hundred and thirty-five and thereafter, for the balancing of accounts of the service of his Majesty in various parts and presidios of these said islands, from each soldier, that which will be stated hereafter, of what they had to contribute as an aid in the expense and support of the sick in the royal hospital of this city of Manila. And, according to what it has been possible to ascertain with greater certainty, the said contributions from all the soldiers of this said camp, and in the forts and presidios of these islands, will amount to the following sum.
In the city of Manila and its camp
In this said city of Manila and its camp, there are at present four companies of Spanish infantry, of which two belong to (and have that title) the said governor and captain-general, and the master-of-camp, Don Lorenco de Olaso.
From [the pay of] the captains of the other two companies, the deduction is made at the rate of one peso per month apiece--which amounts annually to twenty-four pesos 24 pesos
From the four sergeants of the said companies, at the rate of two reals per month apiece--which amounts annually to twelve pesos 12 pesos
The company of the said governor has ninety-two effective soldiers, and four posts below the commissioned officers--which, at the rate of two reals per month apiece, amounts annually to two hundred and eighty-eight pesos 288 pesos
The company of the said master-of-camp, Don Lorenco de Olaso, has one hundred and seven soldiers, and four posts below the commissioned officers--which, at the rate of two reals per month apiece, amounts annually to three hundred and thirty-three pesos 333 pesos
The company of Captain Don Juan Francisco Hurtado de Corcuera has ninety-eight soldiers and four posts below the commissioned officers--which, at the rate of two reals per month apiece, amounts annually to three hundred and six pesos 306 pesos
The company of Captain Don Juan de Frias has also ninety-one effective soldiers and four posts below the commissioned officers--which, at the rate of two reals per month apiece, amounts annually to two hundred and eighty-five pesos 285 pesos
The company of mounted arquebusiers of the captain and sargento-mayor, Don Pedro Hurtado de Corcuera, has thirty soldiers, one lieutenant, one alferez, and one trumpeter--which, at the rate of one peso per month from the said captain, four reals from the lieutenant, four from the alferez, and two from the trumpeter and from each soldier, amounts annually to one hundred and seventeen pesos 117 pesos
From two adjutants of the sargento-mayor of this camp, at the rate of two reals per month--which amounts annually to eighteen pesos 18 pesos
From the head drummer of this camp, at the rate of two reals per month--which amounts annually to three pesos 3 pesos
From the twelve soldiers of the guard of the said governor, at the rate of two reals per month apiece--which amounts annually to thirty-six pesos 36 pesos
Castle of Santiago in this said city
In the said castle of Santiago there is an effective garrison of one drummer, one lieutenant, and twenty-two soldiers--which, at the rate of two reals per month apiece, amounts annually to seventy-two pesos 72 pesos
Fort San Felipe at the port of Cavite
In the said fort San Felipe, there is one company of Spanish infantry, with one captain, one alferez, one sergeant, four minor posts, and seventy soldiers--which, at the rate of one peso per month from the said captain, four reals from the alferez, two from the sergeant, minor posts, and said soldiers, amounts annually to two hundred and forty-three pesos 243 pesos
Presidio of Zibu
In the city of Zibu is a garrison of one company, with one captain, one alferez, one sergeant, four minor posts; and according to what we have been able to ascertain with greatest certainty, about fifty soldiers in the said company--which, at the rate of one peso from the said captain, four reals from the alferez, and two from the sergeant, minor posts, and said soldiers, amounts annually to one hundred and eighty-three pesos 183 pesos
Presidio of Zamboanga
In the presidio of San Jose of Zamboanga, there are three companies, with three captains, three alferezes, one sergeant, four minor posts, and two hundred and ten soldiers in all three companies--seventy in each one, according to the surest information that we have been able to obtain. At the said rate of one peso per month from each captain, four reals from each alferez, and two reals from the sergeant, each minor post, and each soldier, it amounts annually to seven hundred and twenty-nine pesos 729 pesos
Presidio of Oton
In the fort of Nuestra Senora de la Rossario, the presidio of Oton, is a garrison of one company of Spanish infantry, with one captain, one alferez, one sergeant, four minor posts, and fifty soldiers, or thereabout. At the rate of one peso from the said captain, four reals from the alferez, and two from the sergeant, the minor posts, and the said soldiers, it amounts annually to one hundred and eighty-three pesos 183 pesos
Presidio of Cagayan
In the fort San Francisco at the city of Segovia, the presidio of Cagayan, is a garrison of one Spanish infantry company with one captain, one alferez, one sergeant, four minor posts, and about eighty soldiers or so--which, at the said rate from each one, namely, one peso per month from the said captain, four reals from the alferez, two from the sergeant, and each of the minor posts and the said soldiers, amounts in one year to two hundred and seventy-three pesos 273 pesos
Presidio of Caraga
In the fort of San Joseph of Tanga, the presidio of Caraga, is a garrison of one company of Spanish infantry, with one captain, one alferez, one sergeant, four minor posts, and forty-five soldiers--which, at the rate of one peso per month from the said captain, four reals from the alferez, and two from the sergeant, minor posts, and said soldiers, amounts annually to one hundred and sixty-eight pesos 168 pesos
Presidio and fort of the island of Hermosa
In the presidio San Salvador of the island of Hermosa, there are three companies of Spanish infantry, with two captains (for the third is commanded by the castellan and governor of the said presidio), three alferezes, three sergeants, two minor posts, and one hundred and eighty soldiers among all the companies, in the proportion of sixty men to each company, which is the most authentic information that we have been able to discover and ascertain. At the rate of one peso per month from each captain, four reals from each alferez, two from each sergeant, minor post, and soldier, it amounts annually to six hundred and twenty-seven pesos 627 pesos
In the said presidio there are two adjutants of the sargento-mayor, one with the pay of a musketeer, and the other with two hundred and forty pesos per [_illegible in MS._: year?], which at the rate of two reals per month from the one who serves as a soldier, and six from the other, amounts annually to twelve pesos 12 pesos
Forts of Terrenate
In the forts of Terrenate there are six companies of Spanish infantry, with two which are to come in the reenforcements which are next expected. For them there are five captains (for the sixth company is commanded by the governor of the said forts), six alferezes, six sergeants, twenty-four minor posts, and four hundred and eighty soldiers in all, in the proportion of eighty soldiers to each company, which is the ordinary number. At the rate of one peso per month from each captain, four reals from each alferez, and two reals from each sergeant, minor post, and soldier, this amounts annually to one thousand six hundred and twenty-six pesos 1,626 pesos
In the said forts are two adjutants of the sargento-mayor--one with the pay of a soldier, and the other with twenty-five ducados per month--which, at the rate of two reals per month from him who serves in the post of soldier, and six from the other, amounts annually to twelve pesos 12 pesos
Consequently, all together the said contributions amount annually to five thousand five hundred and seventy-four pesos, which is the sum found among the said infantry in the balances and settlements of the accounts; it is levied on them when their pay is given to them, and when warrants are issued for what his Majesty owes them for the time while they have served in these islands in the military posts. This is the most authentic account which it has been possible to get, for many soldiers are generally sick in this city and other places; and consequently, there is usually more or less expense, of little consideration. And so that this may be evident, at the order of the governor and captain-general, Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, we attest the same in Manila, June twenty, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
(In triplicate.)
Hinigo de Villareal Balthazar Ruiz de Escalona
We, the undersigned notaries, attest that Inigo de Villa Real and Don Balthazar Ruiz de Escalona, by whom this certification is signed, are factor and treasurer, the official judges of the royal treasury of these Philipinas Islands; and entire faith and credit has been and is given to them, in and out of court, to the certifications, acts, and other despatches which they as such royal official judges have given and give. Manila, June twenty-three, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
Francisco de la Torre, notary-public. Alonso Baeza Del Rio, notary-public. Augustin de Valenzuela, notary-public.
I, Martin Ruiz de Salazar, accountant of the royal treasury in these Philipinas Islands for the king our sovereign, and senior royal official judge in these islands, certify that it is evident and appears by his Majesty's books of the royal accountancy that are in my charge, that there is charged to the accounts of the pay of the captains, officers, soldiers, sailors, pilots, and common seamen who serve his Majesty in the company of the seamen which is stationed in this port of Cavite and in other parts of these islands, three thousand one hundred and twenty-nine pesos of common gold, in the list where the account of it is kept for the time that they serve; and what is granted and paid by them for the contributions of the hospital for one year reckoned from the first of July, one thousand six hundred and thirty-five, until now (the date for deducting the amount from them, when their accounts are concluded and balanced) is at the rate of eight reals from the captain, four from the alferez, two from the sergeant, a like sum from each non-commissioned officer, and four reals from each marine soldier, a like sum from the pilot, and the same from the common seamen. This has been done in virtue of an order of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, knight of the military Order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of these islands, and president of the royal Audiencia herein, under date of August sixteen of the said year one thousand six hundred and thirty-five. And in order that this may be evident wherever required. I give the present.
Cavite, June thirty, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
Martin Ruiz de Salazar
We, the undersigned notaries, attest that Martin Ruiz de Salazar, by whom the certification of this other part appears to be signed, is accountant and official judge of the royal treasury of these islands. Entire faith and credit has been given, in court and out, to the certifications and other despatches signed in his name. In order that that may be evident, we give the present in Cavite, July twelve, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.
Alonso Mendez de Almada, royal notary and clerk of registers. Augustin de Valenzuela, notary-public. Alonso Baeza del Rio, notary-public.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA
The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla:
1. _The nuns of St. Clare._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de personas eclesiasticos de Filipinas; anos 1609 a 1644; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 43."
2. _Letters to Felipe IV from Corcuera._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1629 a 1639; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 8."
3. _Letter from Corcuera,_ July 11.--The same as No. 2.
4. _Hospitals and hospital contributions._--The same as No. 2.
The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid; they are in "Papeles de los Jesuitas:"
5. _Relation of 1635-36._--In "tomo 119, n deg.. 16."
6. _Letter from Lara._--In "tomo 119, n deg.. 19."
NOTES
[1] Apparently referring to the gate (now Puerta Real) at the southern end of the city which opens toward Bagumbayan, a district between Manila and Ermita. Through this gate were made the formal entrances of governors and archbishops previous to 1762, when the city was taken by the English; after that time, these entrances were made by the Puerta del Parian, at the north-eastern part of the wall.
[2] Spanish, _mas boluesele el sueno del perro_; literally, "a dog's sleep fell on him."
[3] Spanish, _tres tratos de cuerda_; referring to punishment by suspending the delinquent by his hands, which are tied behind his back.
[4] _i.e._, "gate of the magazines," or royal storehouses. The northernmost gate of the city, not far east of the fort of Santiago, and opening toward the Pasig River.
[5] So in the manuscript, probably a transcriber's error; but it evidently refers to the Dominican Pinelo.
[6] The Editors are indebted to Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A., of Villanova College, and father Fray Juan but no Mateos, of the same order, of the Escorial, but now (May, 1905) at Villanova, for valuable help in the translation of this pasquinade. As much of the subject matter of the lampoon is local tit-tat, and as many of the meanings (although they would be perfectly apparent to the Manila populace) are purposely veiled, assurance cannot be given that the present interpretation is correct in every detail. There are also evident plays upon words and phrases, which can only be guessed at. Hence, the original is given partly for that reason.