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
That year of 1663 our governor, the master-of-camp Don Diego de
Salcedo, came to these islands. He was a worthy soldier of Flandes,
where he had attained honorable posts; and since he had filled
them so well his Majesty entrusted to him the influential post of
captain-general and governor of these islands. If these islands were
three thousand leguas nearer, that office would doubtless not be second
in importance to those of America. The ship put in at Nueva Segovia,
and consequently the said governor came overland--being received
very hospitably by our ministering religious and those of our father
St. Augustine, who are established along the way. On that journey also
they were received by the natives with feasts, dancing, and music, in
which they are very entertaining. His Lordship gained a good name in
[receiving] those tokens of welcome, inadequate as they were, by the
great affability and generosity that he displayed to the natives. He
reached Manila and assumed his office amid great acclamation and pomp
on the festal day of September eight, the day consecrated to the
birth of the most holy Virgin. That was a great consolation to all
people, and good auguries were indicated although not all of them
were fulfilled to the letter. He was beyond doubt a capable man,
and one of great intellect. In but few days he understood whatever
concerned his obligation, and never departed from it so long as it
concerned the king's service. He made the despatches of the ships to
España very punctually, and with foresight; for he recognized that the
ship that left here annually to get the situado is the one that ought
to have the greatest care, and demands activity [in preparation] so
that it may not be pushed for time, but that one or two months shall
be gained. Consequently, there always was a ship [on that line];
and God took charge of them and brought them in, seeing that people
here were doing their utmost. [37] In respect to the good fortune
with which he began [his term], he became faint-hearted, and cared
little for being liked, for that post cannot be free from cause for
harshness. The devil entered, upon seeing the necessary wall of love
somewhat fallen; and he put complaints into the minds of the traders,
which soon spread to the other estates. That enemy sowed dissension,
which is his own seed; and the number of those disaffected increasing,
much opposition to the governor arose. At the end of the year 1668
(October tenth) the governor was arrested by the commissary of the
Inquisition, Fray Joseph de Paternina, an Augustinian....
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