The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898; Volume 50: 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 50: 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
"As for its execution, you will be guided by the instructions
framed for España and by the additional ones that apply to the
Indias, availing yourself of both, to the end of selecting from
each that which is best adapted to your purpose. As I have taken
into consideration the distance of those countries from this one,
and the difference in their mode of government, I have decided to
entrust to you all discretionary power [necessary] to change or add
details of circumstance, so that the [desired] result may be attained
with that completeness which so important a matter requires. I think
that your clear-sightedness and prudence will peaceably bring about
obedience to the royal decision--without, however, neglecting guards
and the use of moderate force, in order not to risk the failure of
the enterprise; but in any event if, contrary to what is usual, you
should encounter resistance from the religious concerned in this, or
find among their adherents any inclination or resolution to oppose
you, you will employ the authority and force of military power,
as you would in case of rebellion.
"It will be important that in the villages where there is a college
or house of the Society measures be taken (as soon as the royal
decree has been made known to them) to inform the other religious
orders and the secular clergy of those places that the decree of his
Majesty is limited to the Jesuit religious; for it is very proper that
all the other ecclesiastics, both seculars and regulars, contribute
with their persuasions, so that the people generally shall reverence
the decrees of his Majesty, since they must be considered as always
based on important and just grounds. The king our sovereign has the
greatest confidence in your fidelity and ability, and consequently
I have the same. I only desire, therefore, your complete fulfilment
[of this commission], and that you write to me in order to keep me
informed of the results, without making any inquiries on doubtful
points; for if these should arise you must decide them for yourself,
being governed by the sense and idea which the royal decree and
instructions themselves, as a whole, produce. May God preserve you
many years. Madrid, March 1, 1767."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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