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
I have received two documents from your Grace, in regard to various
matters, and I shall answer them in two others, so that your
Grace may be pleased to read them to the gentlemen of that royal
Council. In regard to one, I say that since the winter when I had
certain advices from the province of San Gregorio of the Filipinas,
and of which I informed the council, I have had no further news. That
news was certain complaints of the provincial and definitors against
the commissary who deprived them of certain things which he found in
his visit, although he exceeded [his authority] in it. That case went
to the commissary of Nueva Espana. According to what the discalced
provincial of the Filipinas wrote me, who went to follow up the case,
penalties were imposed upon the said commissary. Another was sent from
the discalced province of San Diego, so that another chapter might be
celebrated, and that province appeased. I hope in our Lord that it
will be appeased and satisfied; but if not, I have written for them
to send me all the documents and all decisions that shall have been
rendered. Letters were also written to me then, and I was advised of
the great injuries that the governor was causing to the religious. I
neglected to inform his Majesty and that royal Council of this, as
I considered it certain that, as it had been so public, the matter
would have been communicated from there; and that, after having been
weighed by those gentlemen, they would despatch orders to reform it.
Concerning the lawless act and the audacity of the friars in protecting
and aiding the cleric Don Pedro Monroy, and their public censure of the
governor, the Audiencia, and others in their sermons, with scandal, for
which I feel due regret, although the things that occur there publicly,
and the events that happen there, have been very extraordinary,
yet the words of their sermons must be according to the statement of
the holy Council of Trent: _Que sint examinata et casta, eloquia ad
edificationem_ [28]--words used by our father St. Francis, in his
rules for preachers. If they are not so, then the word of God will
not have the effect on its hearers that it had before the disturbance
and scandal--a matter that has always seemed very wrong to me, and
deserving blame and condemnation. That will happen on this occasion,
for which, in due time, I shall send commission for an investigation
and the punishment of the guilty; and [an account of] what shall be
done shall be sent, so that I may present it to that royal Council,
and it may be seen whether satisfaction has been made; for where that
has not been done, I shall endeavor to secure it, as I strive to do
in all things that arise. This is my response to the first document
sent by your Grace. Given in this convent of St. Francis, in Madrid,
June twenty-eight, one thousand six hundred and thirty-five.
_Fray Francisco de Ocana_,
commissary-general of the Indias.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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