The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 05 of 55: 1582-1583; 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 05 of 55: 1582-1583; 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
147th. Clause 147 is quite forgotten, nor can those who govern be
persuaded that this so holy manner of preaching the gospel be tried;
besides, your Majesty leaves no authority to the bishops or to other
prelates to attempt the apostolic preaching of the gospel, but all
the authority is given to the governors, or is assumed by them. If
this clause were to be observed, the bishops and not the governors
would have to reform whatever is needed. The preachers go either
alone or with an escort; hence it is that the governors attempt
more than the conversion of the Indians. They never find place for
the fulfilment of this clause. It is without doubt a shameful thing,
and unworthy of one who professes such a law as ours, that we should
not trust in God, for sometimes the preachers would do more alone,
unaccompanied by arquebuses and pikes; and, although I do not deny
that this may be lawful and sometimes necessary, it would not be a
bad plan that this be tried the other way, at some time. But it will
not be done if your Majesty does not order otherwise.
148th. It is very necessary to observe clause 148 in this country,
since the Indians are thinly scattered, and are settled amid rivers
and marshes where they are found with much difficulty. Hence it is
very desirable that the encomenderos do as they are here commanded,
and not wait for the religious or ecclesiastics, who can not do it with
the same facility as can the encomenderos. Moreover, since the removal
of the Indians from their former homes is a thing very odious to them,
and they change their homes very unwillingly and with much hardship,
it would be better that they be vexed with the encomendero than with
the minister--who has to teach them, and through whom they have to
learn love, and who in all things strives for their good. The same
is true of building the churches and monasteries.
_Relation of what concerns the Sangleys_
The commerce with the Sangleys has always been considered very
important for the supplies and trade not only of this city, but of
those who come here to invest their money, and for what is expected
from it in the future. For it might be that by this means we shall
get a foothold in that great realm, which of all things is so much
desired. This trade has been so harassed and injured this year that
we are in great dread lest those who come here, or many of them, will
not return, or that they will not be willing to sell their merchandise
at former prices, because of the bad treatment that they have received
and the lack of order here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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