The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 42, 1670-1700: 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 42, 1670-1700: 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
Not less were the troubles which the archbishop of Manila, Don Fray
Juan López, encountered from the time when he began to govern his
church. He was a prelate of great virtue and learning, and of a pacific
nature, disinclined to quarrels and discords; but as he was very firm
in the defense of his jurisdiction and dignity, he greatly regretted
that occasion should arise for disturbing the peace which he so
loved. During his time, there were many occasions for recourse to the
royal Audiencia, and controversies over jurisdiction; but that which
most exercised the patience of this great prelate was the audacious
conduct of Master Don Jerónimo de Herrera y Figueroa, who filled
the post of chief chaplain of the royal chapel of the Incarnation;
this was founded by Governor Don Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera,
for the cemetery of Manila, for the burial of his soldiers, as we
stated in its place. The said chief chaplain attempted to arrogate
to himself the privileges and exemptions which the army chaplains
enjoy when they are actually in the field; and thus he sought to be
exempted from obedience to the archbishop and from his jurisdiction,
although he was only the chaplain of a chapel in a presidio. He had
on his side the favor of the governor, Don Manuel de León--which in
Filipinas is to have the lawsuit already gained and all one's efforts
successful. Made confident and daring by this, he opposed his prelate,
not only refusing to obey him, but even being so insolent as to post
the archbishop as excommunicate, to the scandal of all the heathen
peoples who resort to Manila; and these abominable disputes lasted a
long time. A long manifesto was written and printed in favor of Don
Jerónimo de Herrera by Licentiate Don Juan de Rosales, an advocate
in the royal Audiencia, proceeding on the false assumption of the
privileges and exemptions of the chaplains who go with the armies
in their campaigns; and reply to him was made, with very superior
arguments, by the cura of the Spaniards in Manila, Bachelor Don José
de Carrión. But, although the archbishop had justice on his side,
the opposite side had a hold on the governor, and thus they did not
care much for the lack of equity. This controversy was so bitter that
the judges would not decide it, on account of the strained relations
between them; and so it was necessary to refer the case to España,
to the royal and supreme Council of Indias. They, as unprejudiced
judges, rendered sentence in favor of the archbishop; but when this
decision arrived he was already dead. Then the chaplains of the said
royal chapel learned that they were not exempt from the jurisdiction
of the ordinary, as the army chaplains are exempt for other and
reasonable causes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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