The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55: 1606-1609; 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 14 of 55: 1606-1609; 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 July, 1605, several letters of complaint against the archbishop
of Manila are sent to the king, Acuna writes that Benavides is
arrogant and self-willed, and quarrels with everyone; and suggests
that hereafter bishops for the islands be selected more carefully. The
provincial and other high officials of the Augustinian order state that
the archbishop's rash utterances had much to do with precipitating
the Chinese insurrection, and that his quarrels with the governor
are unnecessary and notorious--moreover, he opposes their order
in every way; and they ask the king to interpose his authority and
restrain Benavides. At the same time the Audiencia complain that he
interferes with their proceedings, treats them with little respect,
and assumes precedence of them to which he is not entitled.
Interesting documents of similar date touch on the relations of the
colony with the Chinese. The archbishop appeals to the Audiencia,
in memorials presented June 10 and 13, to accede to the demands of
the Chinese emperor by making restitution to the Chinese merchants for
property of theirs left in Manila at the time of the insurrection and
sold by the Spaniards; and by sending back to their own country those
Chinese survivors of the revolt who were sentenced to the galleys. The
letter sent to Acuna in March, 1605, by a Chinese official is now
answered by the governor (apparently at the beginning of July). He
blames the Portuguese of Macao for not having delivered the letters
to Chinese officials which he wrote after the Sangley insurrection
of 1603; and claims that the Chinese slain therein were themselves
to blame for their deaths. To maintain this position, he cites the
kindness with which the Chinese in the islands were treated by the
Spaniards; and declares that they revolted without provocation, and
killed or abused many Spaniards and Indians, and that the survivors
were punished with great leniency. He sends a part of the money due to
Chinese merchants who owned property in the islands, and promises to
send the rest next year. A letter from one of the auditors at Manila
informs the king that the number of Chinese allowed to remain there
is now (1605) restricted to one thousand five hundred.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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