Part 33

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 alférez, 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 alférez, 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 alférez, 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 alférez, 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 alférezes, 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 alférez, 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 reënforcements which are next expected. For them there are five captains (for the sixth company is commanded by the governor of the said forts), six alférezes, 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 alférez, 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.)

Hiñigo de Villareal Balthazar Ruiz de Escalona

We, the undersigned notaries, attest that Iñigo 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 alférez, 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; años 1609 á 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; años 1629 á 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°. 16."