The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 21 of 55: 1624; 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 21 of 55: 1624; 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
"Certain religious of the above-mentioned orders having come from
those provinces and from others of the Yndias, and having related
the many annoyances that have followed and that might follow from the
observance and fulfilment of the said decree, I ordered some of the
members of my council and other persons of great learning, prudence,
and intelligence to assemble. They having examined the indults, briefs,
and concessions of the supreme pontiffs, and the other papers that
are filed in the secretary's office of my Council of the Indias, in
regard to this matter of the missions--as well as the informations,
letters, relations, and opinions that have been given, sent, and
brought from all parts but lately, and upon the occasion of this
decree, both by the religious and by the prelates and clergy--have
given me their opinion. Considering that it was proper, in order to
come to a resolution and decision in a matter of so great moment and
importance, and commencing with what is of greatest importance--namely,
to commend it to God our Lord, whom you all, as is done here,
are to entreat very urgently to guide and direct it as may be most
to His service, the proper spiritual government of those kingdoms,
the welfare of the souls of the inhabitants and natives therein, and
the propagation of the holy gospel: I have determined to await a more
detailed relation of what may appear from these new documents, and the
general consensus of opinion in all classes, so that after examining
them all (since we all must aid for one and the same purpose, and the
result must be for the welfare of all, and particularly for mine, for
the fulfilment of the great obligation under which our Lord, besides
the many benefits which I continually receive from His blessed hand,
has placed me by adding thereto so great kingdoms and seigniories,
where so great a multitude of souls have come to His true knowledge,
and where they will continue to come daily, by the help of His grace
which illumines them, so that they may leave their blindness) the best
conclusion may be reached. Accordingly, I request and charge you that,
having assembled and congregated in that holy council, you discuss and
confer over what pertains to this matter. You shall send me a very
minute relation of the measures that you shall deem it advisable to
take in each province and bishopric by itself, and for all in general,
in regard to the execution of the said decree. You shall say what
missions are in possession of the religious and those in charge of
the seculars, and in what villages and vicinity these are, and all
the other things concerning it that you think to be necessary for the
sake of greater clearness; so that, having examined the said relations
and the others that are awaited, and the papers that are here, and
holding consultation with my Council of the Indias, as well as with
the other persons whom I shall appoint for this purpose, I may take
the most advisable measures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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