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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 25 of 55: 1635-36; 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 25 of 55: 1635-36; 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

inform yourself. You will also be informed of the manner in which the
Observantine fathers administer in Megico; and you can select which
[branch] you may please, and order that those religious who do not
possess a testimonial from the discalced or from the Observantine
provincials (according to which branch your Majesty selects) shall
not embark at Cadiz. In case that Observantines are not to come,
it is very necessary also to order strictly your viceroy of Mexico
not to allow those who should not possess the said testimonials to
embark at Acapulco; for, since the commissary-general is in Mexico,
he will exert great activity in this respect in order to carry farther
what has been commenced. For that purpose they are at present sending
an Observantine religious. I beg your Majesty not to consider this
as a matter of little moment, for on this one remedy alone depends
the preservation of this province on its first foundation, the peace
of the religious, the proper administration of the Indians, and the
prevention of most serious scandals born from the said opposition
and intermixture, of which this whole kingdom is witness.

In this letter it is seen that no favor or protection is requested from
your Majesty for either myself or anyone else; but I only inform you,
as our sovereign lord, so that you may remedy the injury that results
from the aforesaid to the consciences of your vassals and in the
administration of the Indians. Notwithstanding this, I beseech your
Majesty, if you will be so pleased, to keep my name secret from the
father commissary-general and the Observantines; for if they learn
it, they will give me considerable trouble here. May Heaven prosper
your life with the most fortunate successes, as we your Majesty's
most humble vassals and chaplains desire. [Nueva] Caceres, in the
province of Camarines, June 2, 1635.


Your Majesty's humble chaplain,

_Fray Andres del Sacramento_, father of this province of San Gregorio.


[_Endorsed_: "June 16, 638. Collect what may have been written on this
matter, and bring it; and have the father commissary-general report
whether Observantines go among the discalced fathers who are asked
for. A report was asked from the commissary-general on the sixteenth
of said month."]





LETTER FROM THE FRANCISCAN COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF THE INDIAS

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