The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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 10 of 55: 1597-1599; 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
In another letter I wrote to your Majesty of the necessity which
obtained in this country of establishing the Inquisition, and today
the reasons for this are stronger than then, as shown by experience
and our inconveniences. Thus we have seen, within a few years,
that two prisoners who were going to Mexico escaped from the ship
"Sanct Philipe." In the ships of last year, of three persons who went
thither, two died. A negro who was being taken along as a witness for
an accused man of this city died at sea. If it is thought best not to
have salaries, the matter can be remedied by appointing two religious
or ecclesiastic persons, and one of the auditors of the Audiencia--who,
as they are advisers, can likewise carry on the suits. These, as they
conduct the office of commissary (which is here the same thing as
an inquisitor), would be able to hear the cases and would do so as a
work of charity, and with zeal for the honor of God, until they could
obtain, from the confiscated property, salaries for the inquisitors
whom your Majesty may appoint. For it is easy to see that there is
a great inconvenience in denouncing a person in Manilla and being
obliged to send his case to Mexico, or to come from there with a
decision as to whether to arrest him or not; and to confiscate here
the property of heirs and send it to the Inquisition of Nueba España,
with so great a risk of loss.
This is all at present that occurs to me to send to your Majesty. I
fear I have tired your Majesty with so prolix and unpleasant a
narration. I beg of your Majesty to pardon me and accept my wish,
which is to succeed in the service of your Majesty. If there is a man
in the world who has this desire, unmixed with interest, it is myself,
who am desirous to be of some use so that your Majesty may learn by
experience that I am more anxious to be the most insignificant servant
of your Majesty, merely because your Majesty is who you are, than to
possess all the treasures of the world. May your Majesty enjoy those
of heaven after the many years of life which are necessary for his
realms. Manilla, June 24, 1598. Sire, I kiss the feet of your Majesty,
your humble chaplain,
_Fray Ygnacio_, Archbishop of Manilla.
Sire:
Although I wrote another letter to your Majesty in which I give an
account of the affairs in this country, I am obliged to write this
one to give your Majesty an account of my own affairs, which cannot
be successful unless regulated by your royal hand, from which I
would receive death, if I deserved it, more willingly than life from
another. It has come to my knowledge that the governor of these islands
is writing to your Majesty and complaining of me. As everything which
I shall say now is true, I beseech your Majesty to give it credit. If
your Majesty should find that I do not tell the truth to the last word,
I charge your Majesty to visit upon me a heavy punishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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