CHAPTER VII

Summary

Of the Government of Don Pedro de Acuña, Governor and President of the Philippines; and of that which happened in his time, until he died in June of the year 1606, after having returned to Manila from Maluco, having accomplished the conquest of the isles subject to the King of Terrenate.

In the month of May of six hundred and two, four ships arrived at Manila from New Spain, with a new Governor and President of the High Court, named Don Pedro de Acuna, Knight of the Order of St. John, Commander of Salamanca, who had just been Governor of Cartagena, on the main land. He was received into the government with much satisfaction on the part of all the country, for the necessity which was felt of some one who should be as experienced in warlike matters as vigilant and careful in administration. Don Francisco Tello, his predecesor, who waited for his successor, had to remain in Manila until the following year of 1603, when, in the month of April, he died of a sudden illness. The new governor, seeing that affairs were in such extremities and required setting up, and so little substance in the royal exchequer for doing it, thought his lot was not so good as he had imagined when he was appointed; for the state of affairs obliged him to risk part of his reputation, without being able to remedy them in as short a time as was expedient. He took courage as far as was possible, and omitted no personal labour wherever it was required.