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
It will also be necessary to send persons from this city through
all the bishopric to investigate the injuries that the Indians
suffer. Before they go to do this, I shall have notice of what is
happening; and this is to be done at the cost of your Majesty's
treasury, in order not to give occasion for the robbery of the
Indians, if they should have to pay them. All this is necessary in
order that I should be able to perform well this office, and relieve
the conscience of your Majesty and my own; because many are the wrongs
which the Indians receive in this bishopric from your encomenderos,
the alcaldes-mayor, and the tax-receivers; and, the farther away they
are, the greater the wrongs and the more difficult the remedy. I humbly
beseech your Majesty to be pleased to command provision to be made as
I here request, because otherwise my protection will be only nominal
and ineffectual. I have already discussed this with the governor,
and I understand that he will make provision in some of these things,
because the necessity is very urgent; and for the remainder we wait
what your Majesty is pleased to command. The friendly intercourse which
your Majesty commands me to observe with the governor, your Majesty
may be assured will not be lacking on my part; and I understand that
without doubt there will be as little lack on the part of the governor,
because in the little intercourse that I have had with him I have
conceived very great hopes of him. And I believe that God inspired
your Majesty to send him to us--although, as I have known him only
a little while, I am not able to express more than what I hope.
Because there is no mention made of the Sangleys in the clause of
the letter in which your Majesty commands me to take charge of the
protection of these natives, the governor has considered--and this
is his opinion--that because we were not there named, neither I nor
my agent could answer for them, as for the natives. May your Majesty
be pleased to command what is to be done in this case, because the
Sangleys have so much more need of protection than the natives. In
the meanwhile, according to the wish of the governor, I shall not
cease to aid in whatever may concern them, just as if I had been
appointed to look after them by your Majesty; and my agent will do
the same, in those matters which belong to him as such. May our Lord
preserve the royal person of your Majesty for many years. At Manila,
the twenty-fourth of June, 1590.
_Fray Domingo_, Bishop of the Filipinas.
[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas. To his Majesty; 1590. The bishop;
twenty-fourth of June." "Received and read on June 19, 1591; and
answer sent him that it had been received, and that what he advised
had been approved and should be continued."]
Royal Decree Regulating Commerce in the Philippines
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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