The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 26 of 55, 1636: 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 — John Shaqi
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 26 of 55, 1636: 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 26 of 55, 1636: 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
Ecclesiastical affairs engross a large part of this document, as would
be expected from the recent occurrence of Corcuera's controversy
with the archbishop. The governor's account of this affair will be
found especially interesting when compared with those presented, in
Vol. XXV, from Jesuit and Recollect sources. We have given more space
to this episode than usual--partly because this contention between the
civil and ecclesiastical authorities is, although but one of many, a
typical and important one; and partly because it affords a favorable
opportunity to view such an episode from the different standpoints
of that time in Manila--a necessary mental process for obtaining
a correct knowledge, not only of this affair, but of all others in
which the like elements of human nature are concerned. The resemblance
of Corcuera's account to that by "a citizen of Manila" is more than
casual, and incidentally throws considerable light on the situation
(as well as on social conditions in Manila). It contains attested
copies of the various documents connected with the controversy.
Another section is devoted to an account of the governor's
difficulties with the religious orders in "subduing the religious to
the understanding that your Majesty alone is their natural seignior;
and the seignior of the said islands." He claims that the Dominicans
are most active of the orders in opposing the government, while
certain proceedings of the Franciscans have scandalized the Spanish
colony. The Augustinians are in need of reform, as their proceedings
are unscrupulous and selfish, and they are trying to usurp the royal
authority among the Indians. Corcuera advises that a coadjutor be
appointed for the aged archbishop Guerrero, and that hereafter no
more friars be made bishops in the islands. The orders have brought
over more religious than the government had allowed them, to which
the governor objects; he also recommends that those who do come
should be procured from Mexico, to save unnecessary expense in their
transportation, and that seculars be preferred to friars. Moreover,
this will provide occupation for the theological students in the
Mexican colleges, who now are set aside, in ecclesiastical appointments
there, for the friars. The governor appeals to the king for support
in his contest with the friars. In another letter, he recounts the
annoyances which he has experienced with the Dominicans, and asks
for the king's orders therein. Still another is devoted to the recent
difficulties in the Franciscan order, wherein the Observantines have
been trying to oust the discalced friars; Corcuera asks the king
to interpose his influence with the heads of the order in Spain to
check these schemes, and to restrain the arrogance of these friars
in the islands. In a brief letter regarding the Mexican trade of the
islands, the governor urges that the government double the amount
of this trade allowed to the islands. Considerable attention is
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