housand five hundred and ninety-five, Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas,
knight of the order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general of
these Filipinas Islands for our lord the king, declares that he
has considered the documents and official acts hitherto made and
issued in regard to the settlement and pacification of the island of
Mindanao by Captain Rodriguez de Figueroa, as stated in the report
and account sent by the alcalde-mayor of Oton concerning the present
invasion of the province of Pintados by hostile caracoas. The said
governor has also considered the pleas offered in the same matter
by Don Francisco de Poca y Guevara y Concortes for himself and the
other encomenderos of the said island of Mindanao; and also the recent
discussion, consultation, and conference upon the said expedition and
the results thereof. I declare that I ought to direct, and do direct,
that Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa shall be notified to make
the said expedition, pacification, and settlement of the said island
of Mindanao after the following manner.
First: He shall observe and comply with the commands of our lord the
king as laid down in two sections of a royal letter dated at Madrid
June 11, one thousand five hundred and ninety-four, the tenor of
which is as follows:
"I have considered the directions given by you to Captain Estevan
Rodriguez de Figueroa as to the pacification of Mindanao, and approve
thereof. I sanction the carrying of these provisions into effect,
provided that the third part which he is directed to set off by itself,
to be distributed in encomiendas, shall not in income exceed fifteen
thousand pesos of eight reals. It is understood that this is allowed
for the pacification of the entire island, and that a proportionate
allowance is made for a partial pacification. You are also empowered
to offer him that the title of mariscal of the said island will be
given him as soon as he shall report that the said island is pacified,
and that he has complied with the agreement, and has imposed laws;
and to bid him to observe the ordinances and instructions made for
the said pacification, without exceeding them.
"I take advantage of this opportunity to charge you anew that in this
exploration and in all the others that shall be made you shall see to
it that the aforesaid instructions and ordinances for new explorations,
entrances, and collections of tribute, and the other laws governing
these matters be observed, takin
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