Legazpi uses force

THEREUPON, Fray Andres de Urdaneta arose and spoke first, ‘as was his custom, because of his experience and because all the Spaniards regarded him as a father, from whom must originate the remedy.’ He explained that natural law made it imperative for them to seize provisions by whatever means available because after all the intent of the expedition was for the ‘good of those barbarians.’  It was wrong to refuse the Spanish fleet the food which it needed, which meant taking up arms was justifiable ‘since by no other way had any remedy been found among those unreasoning barbarians.’ 

Urdaneta’s message was the signal for Legazpi to use force to get his provisions. Legazpi immediately ordered Martin de Goiti to land with 50 well-armed soldiers. When he came face to face with the natives, Goiti announced the articles of peace through interpreter Pacheco, and declared that, ‘if they did not accord with what was so reasonable to all, then they should prepare for war.’ But before the natives could react, Goiti’s troops fired their arquebuses, scattering the natives in fright. ‘Being so little used to them, their terror was so great, that without awaiting more, they abandoned the shore and the village, fled to the hills, and allowed the soldiers to collect the swine that were found there, and the fowls and rice that they could not carry away.’ 

‘And so they went, and we made a fine festival, killing for meat on that same day about 45 swine, with which we enjoyed a merry carnival – as payment of barter were given to the chief whom I had with me,’ wrote Legazpi to the king. The payment was accordingly given to Camatuan who accompanied him to Limasawa and introduced him to the local chiefs in the neighboring islands. 

After that, Legazpi sailed with his fleet for Butuan, then Bohol and Cebu. It was the second week of March, 1565. The actual possession of the lands discovered and subjugation of the natives started in earnest in 1571, six years after their encounter with Legazpi and his soldiers. The rule of the encomenderos would begin when Legazpi gave his men territories from whose settlers they would collect tributes.

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