The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 28 of 55: 1637-38; 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 28 of 55: 1637-38; 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
The Jesuit Juan de Barrios, who accompanied Corcuera in his expedition
against Jolo, relates (March-April, 1638) the events of that campaign
in letters to Manila. The Spaniards are repulsed several times in
attacking the Moro stronghold, and one of their divisions is surprised
by the enemy with considerable loss to the Spaniards. Corcuera
then surrounds the hill with troops and fortifications, and begins
a regular siege of the Moro fort; various incidents of this siege
are narrated. On the day after Easter the Moros, starved and sick,
send Corcuera proposals for surrender; and finally they abandon their
stronghold, and take flight, leaving the Spaniards in possession
of all their property as well as the fort. A letter from Zamboanga
(perhaps by Barrios) adds further particulars of the surrender and
flight of the Joloans, the mortality among the Spaniards, the garrison
left there by Corcuera, etc.
Taking up the general religious status of the islands, we select
from the _Recopilacion de las leyes de Indias_, lib. i, tit. xiv,
the laws that especially concern the religious in the Philippines,
dated from 1585 to 1640. These persons may not go to China or other
countries, or return to Spain or Mexico, without special permission
from the civil and ecclesiastical authorities. Carmelites may go to
the islands from Mexico. The missions must be so assigned that each
order has its own territory, separate from the others. The usual
supplies shall be given to such religious as obtain permission to
enter China and Japan; and all royal officials are directed to aid
the fathers in their journeys, and not to hinder them. Religious who
lead scandalous lives, or have been expelled from their orders, may
not remain in Filipinas. The papal decrees _de alternativa_ are to be
enforced in the Indias. The restrictions imposed on religious going
to the Japan missions are removed; all orders may go, but are charged
to set an example of harmony and fraternal behavior. The missionaries
are forbidden to engage in commerce or other business; the field shall
be suitably divided among the various orders; and any bishops who may
be appointed in Japan shall be suffragan to the see of Manila. Clerics
from Eastern India are not to be allowed to perform priestly functions
in Filipinas, or even to enter the islands. The proceeds resulting
from the sale of the bulls of the Crusade must be placed in the royal
treasury, and not used in trade by the treasurers of the Crusade.
The Jesuit Colin places at the end of his _Labor evangelica_ (Madrid,
1663) a statement--prepared, he says, in accordance with a command
from the king--of the number of missions, houses, and laborers
supported by that order in the Philippines, a survey of its field
and labors in the year 1656. He describes the scope, functions, and
resources of the colleges in Manila; the missions near that city;
and, in their order, the residences and missions maintained by the
Society in the respective islands.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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