The Death of Gomez Perez Dasmariñas

The Chinese rowers conspired 3 days before to seize the galley in order to:

• avoid the labor of rowing on this expedition
• get the money, jewels, and other articles of value aboard the vessel

At a signal, they all lit their candles, and catan [46] in hand, attacked the guards and the men who slept in the quarters [ballesteras] and in the wales, and seized the galley.

A few of the Spaniards escaped, some by swimming ashore, others by means of the galley’s tender, which was at the stern.

When the governor heard the noise from his cabin, thinking that the galley was dragging and that the crew were lowering the awning and taking to the oars, he hurried carelessly out bareheaded through the hatchway of the cabin.

Several Chinese were awaiting him there and split his head with a catan.

Thus wounded, he fell down the stairs into his cabin. His 2 servants carried him to his bed, where he immediately died.

The servants met the same fate from the stabs given them through the hatch.

The only surviving Spaniards in the galley were:

• Juan de Cuellar, the governor’s secretary
• Father Montilla of the Franciscan order

They were sleeping in the cabin amidships, and remained there without coming out.

The Chinese did not think that there were more Spaniards.

The next day, they took the 2 men out and put them ashore on the coast of Ylocos in Luzon so that the natives would give them water which they badly needed.

The Spaniards in the other vessels saw the lights and heard the noise in the galley. They thought that some work was being done.

They waited for the morning, and when it began to dawn, they saw that the galley had already set its bastard, and was sailing, wind astern toward China, and they were unable to pursue it.

The galley sailed with a favorable wind all along the coast of the island until leaving it.

It took some water at Ylocos, where the secretary and the religious were abandoned.

The Chinese tried to make for China, but ended up in the kingdom of Cochinchina, where the king of Tunquin seized:

• their cargo
• 2 large pieces of artillery which were intended for the expedition of Maluco
• the royal standard
• all the jewels, money, and articles of value

The galley was left to drift ashore.

The Chinese dispersed and fled to different provinces.

The Governor’s death ended the expedition to Maluco and his administration.

Among other despatches Dasmariñas brought from España was authorization from his Majesty for him to appoint his successor in case of death.

The news of the seizure of the galley was soon known in Manila.

Its citizens and soldiers assembled at the house of Licentiate Pedro de Rojas to discuss measures.

They elected Rojas as governor and captain-general.

Then they sent Captain Don Juan Ronquillo del Castillo and other captains with 2 frigates (for there were no other vessels) in pursuit of the galley.

• It was a fruitless attempt, for the galley was nowhere to be seen.

The new governor also sent a message to Don Luis Dasmariñas and ordered them to return quickly to Manila which was almost deserted.

The news caused great grief in the fleet.

Don Luys Dasmariñas and Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa each was certain that he would become governor.

Juan de Cuellar, who had escaped from the galley, arrived from Ylocos. He testified that Gomez Perez had appointed a successor but did not state whom.

40 days passed. Don Luis appeared in Manila bay with Estevan Rodriguez and many men.

This caused a search for the papers kept in St. Augustine. Among them was the royal order and the nomination of Don Luys Dasmariñas to succeed to the governorship.

The partisans of Licentiate Rojas did not like it.

Yet, the city magistrates made Don Luys Dasmariñas governor.

The return of the fleet in Manila was fortunate.

There arrived in Manila many Chinese ships which carried many men and little merchandise, and 7 mandarins bearing the insignia of their office to try to seize the country.

But they desisted from the attempt when they found the city with more troops than ever.

They returned to China.