-gunners, armorers,
and powder-makers, all engaged in their trades--who at divers times
have killed many Spaniards when the latter were going to collect the
tribute (once killing thirteen, and at other times four or five),
without our being able to mete out punishment, because of lack of
troops. By reason of the facts above recited, and because all of
the said wrongs and troubles will cease with the said pacification;
and, when it is made, we are sure that the surrounding kingdoms of
Borney, Jolo, Java, and other provinces, will become obedient to his
Majesty: therefore, in order that the said island may be pacified,
subdued, and settled, and the gospel preached to the natives; and
that justice may be established among them, and they be taught to
live in a civilized manner, and to recognize God and His holy law,
I have tried to entrust the said pacification to a person of such
character that he may be entrusted with it. Now considering that the
good qualities requisite for this, and which are demanded by section
twenty-seven of "New Discoveries," are found in Esteban Rodriguez de
Figueroa--that he is rich, powerful, possessed of many friends, popular
with the soldiers of this country, and well-acquainted with the land,
as being one of the first discoverers--and that he has served his
Majesty loyally and faithfully, and offers of his own accord to make
the said pacification at his own expense; therefore, as I am confident
that he will fulfil whatever he covenants and contracts to do in his
Majesty's service, I have resolved to entrust and charge to him the
said pacification, in his Majesty's name. And if he, on his part,
shall fulfil his offers, which accompany this writ, then I, on my
part, will fulfil likewise what I promise, as a reward for the said
pacification. Therefore, by this present, I empower and authorize said
Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa, to make the said pacification
and settlement of the island of Mindanao, and at his own expense,
under the following conditions and declarations:

As the first condition, the said Captain Estevan Rodriguez binds
himself and promises to fulfil and observe as inviolate, first and
foremost, the decrees and ordinances of his Majesty in the sections of
"New Discoveries," and in each one of them, separately--of which he
will be given an authorized copy, so that he may exercise the equity
and good method of proceeding, gently and without violence, which his
Majesty has co