The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 12 of 55: 1601-1604; 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 12 of 55: 1601-1604; 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
Even since this, the enemy from Mindanao, who are naked savages,
have come and carried away many hundreds of captive Indians,
many of whom straightway became their servants. Nothing is heard
in these islands but the accounts of misfortunes. These matters,
and the many expenditures that have been made and are still going
on in your Majesty's royal exchequer in these islands, as well as
many other serious affairs, demand, Sire, that your Majesty send a
general inspector here, and choose for this a man who is of great
integrity and with great reputation for purity from all taint of
greed. If this inspection be not made, there is no redress for this
land. All the said Chinese, about fifteen hundred, have been killed,
except it be a few who have been kept as slaves in your Majesty's
service. The Spanish residents of this city greatly aided in the
fighting, and in their conscientious behavior and in prayer the Indians
were very loyal--as also the Christian Chinese, except some seven or
eight of them. It is not known how this affair will be considered in
China. If the alcaiceria of the infidel Chinese is again permitted,
I assure you that a second uprising will surely occur. Let them come,
but remain in their ships and sell their goods. Your Majesty should
not trust the Spaniards, on account of their greed, in anything which
may prove the ruin of this country. I can do no more than advise.
This letter is brought by a father of the Order of St Augustine, named
Fray Diego de Guevara, prior of the convent of San Augustin here. His
order is sending him on its own affairs, which are serious and call
for much amelioration; accordingly they are sending the said father
to your Majesty's presence. I recognize in him a very religious and
learned man. I am sure that it would be for the great service of the
Lord if your Majesty would listen to him, and give your royal favor
and attention to all he may say in regard to reformation, and the
general welfare of his order, and the betterment of this land--as to
a man who was present in this affair of the Chinese, and knows the
misfortunes and captures in these islands due to the naked Indian
wretches of Mindanao, and as to a learned and religious man. Manila,
December 16, 1603.
_Fray Miguel_,
bishop, and archbishop elect of the Philipinas.
[_Endorsed_: "Manila, to his Majesty; 1603. The archbishop; December
16, 1603." "September 26, 1606. Have this placed with the other
letters-credential of Fray Diego de Guevara."]
LETTERS FROM PEDRO DE ACUNA
Sire:
Having written and sealed the folio which will go with this, on
Friday the eve of St. Francis' day of this year, and set thereto the
date of the following day, when some one was to depart and take it,
on that same Friday night there occurred the insurrection of the
Chinese which I shall recount in this.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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