The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55: 1583-1588; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55: 1583-1588; 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 Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
The care that your Majesty has always had and continues to have for
the preservation of these islands, and the great expense that your
Majesty has incurred therein, since they began to be pacified (a
work which still continues) without your Majesty's royal exchequer
having any profit, cause your Majesty's very Christian zeal to be
well understood, and that what you principally aspire to is the great
service which is rendered to our Lord, in spreading His holy evangel
in lands so remote, and among people so far removed from the true
knowledge, by which, through His goodness and mercy, so many thousands
of souls have been converted, and are being converted every day,
to His holy faith, to say nothing of many who in this time have been
born in and enjoyed holy baptism. The latter are extremely numerous,
which has resulted from the employment of soldiers stationed here,
for with their protection the religious who aid in conversions and
preaching can do so in security. Without such protection this would be
impossible, unless by the special grace of God, because these natives
are a people untamed, rebellious, and exceedingly cruel. If they are
obedient, it is plainly evident that they are so on account of this
check; and that if they were not thus restrained, not only would
the work not go forward, but the gains would be turned to losses,
through inability to retain them. What your Majesty has so happily
commenced here would come to an end, although these districts and
the neighborhood promise so excellent beginnings, of the very best,
in those places so near this country--which are, as your Majesty
well knows, China, Japan, Borney, Sian, and Patan, and many other
very rich and prosperous provinces. Furthermore, a manifest and great
service would be rendered to our Lord, when their peoples should come
to know Him. Your Majesty's royal crown would be extended by wider
boundaries, as your Majesty's greatness and Christian zeal worthily
merit. Therefore what has been thus far gained is of very great
consequence, and your Majesty should order that it be preserved with
the care hitherto manifested, since it is of so great importance. This
can in no wise be accomplished without the assistance of soldiery.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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