The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 19 of 55: 1620-1621; 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 19 of 55: 1620-1621; 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
27th. The expense incurred in Terrenate, both in the pay and in the
reenforcements and other extraordinary demands, is of such nature
that it is very heavy, although according to the account, not very
adequate; and as yet I have not made it so large as your Majesty
has been informed. It is a fact that, without that drainage of men
and money, the expenses here would be much less; and we would get
along and live with very small expenditures, and much better. But
it must also be considered that if the enemy enjoy Maluco in quiet,
their profits and gains would be very great; and I think they could
consequently succeed in whatever plan they wished, and whatever they
did would result well. But because they do not possess it, there
is war--in which he will prevail and succeed better who has more
tenacity and force, especially on the sea. He who will remain lord
of them will be lord of many profits and riches, which can be taken
from these districts. Inasmuch as this is a matter that demands a
more orderly and full treatment, in regard to experience and certain
well considered relations, I shall not involve myself further in it,
until I shall be able to do so with these necessary conditions. But
I shall endeavor to do it as soon and as much better as possible.
[_Marginal note_: "It is well. Endeavor will always be made to
reenforce and protect those islands and your government with the
forces possible. But as these are limited, and consumed in so many
diverse occasions and armies in Germany, Flandes, and Ytalia, and
other places, it is highly advisable, as has been written you, to be
careful in your expenses and in the accuracy of their account. It is
also desirable that you endeavor to work the mines of the country,
and to carry on a factory and the trade of cloves and drugs as much
as is possible, so that you may sustain yourselves and may not prove
so expensive, as has been represented to you in preceding clauses."]
28th. I shall also endeavor to tell your Majesty what I shall ascertain
and hear about the duties on the cloves of Terrenate and the factory,
taking for that the depositions of the Audiencia and of the royal
officials--which I shall not do now, for want of time. In the opinion
that I asked from them some days ago in regard to sending [a vessel] to
trade for cloves on your Majesty's account with goods and money that I
had for that purpose, Don Alvaro opposed me so strongly in everything,
that one would think that he considers that the risks are mine and
that it is done on my account (as if the gains were mine), rather
than for your Majesty's service. However, I sent the goods necessary
for this trading, because of the gain that results from it and its
investment to the royal revenues and the provisions brought from India.
[_Marginal note_: "Council. You have already been answered as to
this."]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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