and plunders their countrymen who visit his land--thus wronging vassals
of Spain; and that the Borneans, being Mahometans, are spreading their
heresy among the peoples of the archipelago. Sande writes a letter
to this ruler, announcing his desire to confer with him, and to make
a compact of peace and friendship. He demands from the king not only
free opportunity for Christian preachers to evangelize the Borneans,
but also the cessation of any further Mahometan propaganda by Borneans
among the Filipinos. The king must also surrender any persons whom he
has forcibly detained, with all their possessions; and must provide
the Spaniards with food--for which, however, he will receive pay. No
answer being made by the Borneans, and Sande's envoys not returning to
the fleet, he enters the port, despite the resistance of the native
vessels therein. The people thereupon flee inland, and the Spaniards
enter the town, seizing there various possessions of the king--among
them letters from the Portuguese, one of which is signed "El Rey" ("the
King"). Sande takes possession of all Borneo for Spain. He then sends
(May 23, 1578) one of his officers, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa,
to subdue the Sulu Islands. He is instructed to reduce, as gently
as he can, the pirates of that group to peaceful agriculturists,
and secure from them the payment of tribute. Next, he is to go
on a similar errand to Mindanao; and, as many of its inhabitants
are Mahometans, he must strive to uproot "that accursed doctrine"
there. Sande returns to Manila, whence in the following year (February
28, 1579) he despatches Juan Arce de Sadornil with a fleet to Borneo,
giving him detailed instructions for his conduct on this expedition. He
is to ascertain the condition of affairs there, and gently endeavor
to gain the submission of the king as a vassal of Spain. Sadornil
goes to Borneo, and conducts various negotiations with the king, but
cannot induce the latter to confer with him in person. Finally, seeing
that he can accomplish nothing, and that his men are suffering from