The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 08 of 55: 1591-1593; 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 08 of 55: 1591-1593; 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
9. Besides the cessation of the preaching of the gospel for lack of
ministers, as has been stated above, which is the principal danger
affecting the spiritual good, there is another question of no little
consideration touching temporal welfare. In the present condition
of things here, where there is no instruction (even should there
be justice) the entire tribute cannot be raised, according to the
statement of the theologians of this bishopric. The Indians must be
left at least the fourth part of the tribute, which is about the sum
owed and applied for the expense and support of the instruction. Taking
into account the large number of tributarios and encomenderos of
your Majesty, this would amount to a very great sum, which would
not be collected for this reason, and your Majesty would lose much
more in these fourths. There is another inconvenience in the lack
of instruction, and that is, that where there is no instruction and
the payment of the fourth is excused and less tribute collected, the
consequence is very damaging for the other Indians; for they say that
the Christians pay more tribute than do those who are not Christians,
and consequently no one is willing to be converted. This effect would
cease under adequate instruction, as all would become Christians
and would pay the same tribute, there being no opportunity for the
aforesaid practice. Moreover, restitution of the amounts collected
would be obligatory in the places where there is no teaching. Over
this subject of payment of tributes I have had various arguments with
the bishop, as your Majesty will see by the papers which are sent
herewith. By them your Majesty may understand more accurately all
that has passed, and what the bishop and I have written and replied
to each other. Therefore, as briefly as possible, I shall report it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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