The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 37, 1669-1676: 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 37, 1669-1676: 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
It is no wonder that hostile tongues condemn the father commissary,
Fray Jose Paternina, as having acted with passion in the imprisonment
of his Lordship, for various reasons. First: his Lordship, before
coming to these islands, while he was in the City of Mexico had carnal
intercourse with a woman who was a relative of the said commissary. The
latter came to know this, and declared himself the mortal enemy of his
Lordship; and thus arose and began, while they were on the voyage to
these islands, a strong aversion, which was kept up during the voyage,
and was public and notorious. After arriving at this city they were
on very bad terms; and besides, the commissary is ambitious, greedy,
and not of exemplary life. Moreover, he is very revengeful, keeping the
city stirred up with the word "Inquisition," and summoning [before it]
men for matters of little importance--to the scandal of the community
and the discredit of those thus summoned, for no one knows for what
purpose they are arrested; this is keenly felt among our countrymen,
since we boast of being [good] Catholics, as we are.
Another reason: He was greatly displeased at seeing that the profitable
position of alcalde was not given to his nephew Don Gonzalo Samaniego
(whom he loved and valued highly) nor even to his own Paternity a
priorate to his liking; indeed, his provincial, Fray Alonso Guijano
kept him in the convent on account of recognizing his evil disposition,
and as Fray Jose did not know the language; besides, the provincial
had other religious of long standing and ability with whom to fill
the priorates. The commissary attributed this to the dissensions
which he had had with his Lordship in Nueva España and on the voyage;
and fancied that it was Don Diego who had arranged the matter with
his provincial, as those two were friends. There is proof of this
[my] statement; for as soon as he secured the imprisonment of Don
Diego, the first and most important office that was filled was given
to his nephew, conferring on him first the rank of sargento-mayor
of the armada of Oton. For himself, he made arrangements with the
usurper to receive his strong recommendation to the priorate of
the convent in this city, which was immediately given to him by the
provincial. Finally, it is he who rules the usurper; for there is a
mutual understanding between them on account of what they could make
known regarding the great amount that is lacking and does not appear
in the wealth which was seized from his Lordship--coin, ingots, and
[wrought] articles of gold, and diamonds. And he [i.e., the commissary]
is at present rich and honored, respected and feared, succeeding with
whatever he wishes, pleases, and purposes.
As I have not time for more, I will set down the names of those who
had most to do with the imprisonment of the governor, Don Diego de
Salcedo; they are the following:
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account