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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55: 1576-1582; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century

History

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 04 of 55: 1576-1582; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century

Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources

A royal decree of March 26, 1580, provides for appointments to
fill vacant benefices in the cathedral at Manila The new governor,
Ronquillo de Peñalosa, writes to the king (July 17, 1581), asking
whether Manila is to be regarded as his capital and head-quarters,
and giving advice in various matters. Like many such documents,
this is endorsed: "Seen; an answer is unnecessary."

As some of the Franciscan friars who have come to the Philippines
have preferred to labor in China, Peñalosa orders (March 2, 1582)
that no person shall leave the islands without his permission. In a
letter dated June is of that year, he complains to the king that he
has not received the expected reënforcements of men from New Spain;
that the Audiencia of that country (in which is now Sande, superseded
by Peñalosa as governor of the Philippines) meddles with his government
and threatens to make trouble for him; and that he needs a competent
assistant in his office. Ternate is now under Spanish control,
and Spain monopolizes the rich spice-trade; Panama is the best
route therefor. An "English pirate," presumably Sir Francis Drake,
has been intriguing with the Malays at Ternate, and the post there
should be more heavily fortified. The newly-appointed bishop, Salazar,
has arrived; on account of his austerity and his wish to dominate,
he is not a favorite with the people.

_The Editors_

April, 1903.



Documents of 1576-78

    Relation of the Filipinas Islands. Francisco de Sande; June 7,
    1576.

    Relation and description of the Phelipinas Islands. [Francisco
    de Sande]; June 8, 1577.

    Bull for erection of the diocese of Manila. Gregory XIII;
    February 6, 1578.

    Letter to Felipe II. Francisco de Sande; July 29, 1578.

    Indulgence to those who visit Franciscan churches;
    Gregory XIII; November 15, 1578.


_Sources_: These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo de
Indias, Sevilla, excepting the papal decrees; the first of these is
from _Doc. inéd., Amér. y Oceanía_, xxxiv, pp. 72-79, the second from
the _Crónica de la provincia de San Gregorio_ of Fray Francisco de
Santa Inés (Manila, 1892), i, pp. 215, 216.

_Translations_: The first document is translated by Rachel
King; the second, by José M. Ascensio; the third and fifth, by
Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the fourth, by G.A. England.



Relation of the Filipinas Islands

Royal Catholic Majesty:

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