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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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

spread of the gospel, would be to go to China with the mailed hand,
or to use any sort of violence. For we have had at no time, nor do
we have, any cause, right, or reason to enter that kingdom by force
of arms; for it is evident that we have not told them, nor do they
know, our intention. On the contrary they take us for people whose
only aim is to usurp foreign kingdoms; and, since they think thus,
it is well for them to guard against us. In order to correct the
wrong opinion which they entertain of us, we should not go there
with large fleets and armies equipped, because the only result would
be to vex and offend the greatest and best kingdom in the world;
but if we go there in the way that God commands and desires, and at
the time appointed by His Divine Majesty (for we men cannot know),
we shall make one of the largest conversions ever seen since the time
of the primitive church. This is what the devil tries to hinder by
spreading abroad the notion that the only way by which China can
be entered is by force of arms. The truth is, that until now no
people has been discovered so ready to receive the gospel as this,
or of whom can be entertained such hope of great results by going
to preach the gospel as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded; and if any
one, be he even an angel from heaven, were of a different opinion,
may your Majesty consider him an agent of the devil, who tries to
convince people that the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached
with zeal and not with knowledge, with violence and force of arms,
like the alcoran of Mahoma. This is a principle which may God remove
from the minds of all Christian princes, and from all men who are well
acquainted with the law of God and evangelical truth. I am confident
that, when your Majesty learns the truth, you will not allow anything
to be done contrary to the will of God.

Now I shall speak of the Sangleys, of whom there would be much to
say had I not in the past given to your Majesty an account of many
things concerning them. Therefore I shall be brief, in order not to
make this account longer than is necessary.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

History

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 07 of 55: 1588-1591; 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

spread of the gospel, would be to go to China with the mailed hand,
or to use any sort of violence. For we have had at no time, nor do
we have, any cause, right, or reason to enter that kingdom by force
of arms; for it is evident that we have not told them, nor do they
know, our intention. On the contrary they take us for people whose
only aim is to usurp foreign kingdoms; and, since they think thus,
it is well for them to guard against us. In order to correct the
wrong opinion which they entertain of us, we should not go there
with large fleets and armies equipped, because the only result would
be to vex and offend the greatest and best kingdom in the world;
but if we go there in the way that God commands and desires, and at
the time appointed by His Divine Majesty (for we men cannot know),
we shall make one of the largest conversions ever seen since the time
of the primitive church. This is what the devil tries to hinder by
spreading abroad the notion that the only way by which China can
be entered is by force of arms. The truth is, that until now no
people has been discovered so ready to receive the gospel as this,
or of whom can be entertained such hope of great results by going
to preach the gospel as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded; and if any
one, be he even an angel from heaven, were of a different opinion,
may your Majesty consider him an agent of the devil, who tries to
convince people that the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached
with zeal and not with knowledge, with violence and force of arms,
like the alcoran of Mahoma. This is a principle which may God remove
from the minds of all Christian princes, and from all men who are well
acquainted with the law of God and evangelical truth. I am confident
that, when your Majesty learns the truth, you will not allow anything
to be done contrary to the will of God.

Now I shall speak of the Sangleys, of whom there would be much to
say had I not in the past given to your Majesty an account of many
things concerning them. Therefore I shall be brief, in order not to
make this account longer than is necessary.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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