The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 - 1621-1624 - 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.

James Alexander Robertson, Emma Helen Blair, Edward Gaylord Bourne

Informations

• Publié par: undro
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 40
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume
XX, 1621-1624, by Various
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624
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
Author: Various
Editor: Emma Helen Blair
Release Date: June 25, 2005 [EBook #16133]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ***
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team
The Philippine Islands, 1493–
1898
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,Volume XX, 1621–1624
Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and
James Alexander Robertson with historical
introduction and additional notes by Edward
Gaylord Bourne.
Table of Contents
Contents of Volume XX
Illustrations
Preface
Documents of 1621
News from the Province of Filipinas, This Year, 1621
Death of Dona Catalina Zambrano
Letter from Fajardo to the King
Letter from Archbishop Miguel Garcia Serrano to the King
Letter to the King from Geronimo de Silva
Affairs in the Franciscan Province
Letter from Fajardo to the King
Documents of 1622
Letters from Auditor Messa y Lugo to the King
Letters from the Archbishop of Manila to the King
Royal Decrees Regarding the Religious
Ordering the Dominicans Not To Meddle in
Government Affairs
Ordering the Archbishop of Manila To Examine
Religious
Documents of 1623–1624
Letter from Felipe IV to Fajardo
Royal Permission for the Dominican College in Manila
Expedition to the Mines of the Igorrotes
Bibliographical Data
Contents of Volume XX
Preface 9
Documents of 1621
News from the province of Filipinas. Alonso Roman; Manila,
[July?]. 25
Death of Doña Catalina Zambrano. [Unsigned]; Manila, July.
40
Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; Manila, July 21.
44
Letter from the archbishop of Manila to the king. MiguelGarcia Serrano, O.S.A.; Manila, July 30. 76
Letter to the king. Geronimo de Silva; Manila, August 1. 106
Affairs in the Franciscan province. Pedro de Sant Pablo,
O.S.F., and others; Manila, 1620–21. 115
Letter to the king. Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; Manila,
December 10. 127
Documents of 1622
Letters to the king. Alvaro Messa y Lugo; Manila, 1621 and
July 30, 1622. 159
Letters from the archbishop of Manila to the king. Miguel
García Serrano; Manila, 1621–22. 226
Royal decrees regarding the religious. Felipe IV; Madrid,
December 31. 249
[2]Documents of 1623–1624
Letter to Fajardo. Felipe IV; Madrid, October 9, 1623. 257
Royal permission for the Dominican college in Manila. Felipe
IV; Madrid, November 27, 1623. 260
Expedition to the mines of the Igorrotes. Alonso Martin
Quirante; Alingayen, June 5, 1624. 262
Bibliographical Data. 305
Illustrations
Autograph signatures of Valerio de Ledesma and Alonso Roman;
photographic facsimiles from tracings in the Ventura del Arco MS.
37
Weapons of the Igorrotes; photograph of weapons in the Colegio de
Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid. 271
Weapons of the natives of North Luzón; photograph of weapons in
the Museo-Biblioteca de Ultramar, Madrid. 277
[9]
Preface
The years 1621–24, although not marked by great battles, conquests, or
calamities, contain much that is of interest in the internal development of
the Philippine colony; and these documents vividly illustrate the ceaseless
play and interaction of human interests and passions—especially in the
romantic but tragic love-affair of Fajardo’s wife, in which is material for a
brilliant novel. The usual conflicts occur between the civil authorities and
the friars, and between the governor and the Audiencia; but the records of
these controversies furnish an unusual revelation of human nature and its
complicated phenomena. The alliance between the Dutch and the English
menaces this far Oriental Spanish colony with even more dangers than it
has already experienced; and its feeble defenses and insufficient equipment
of arms and men keep its people in constant dread and anxiety. For defense
against the expected attacks of the heretics against Manila more ships and
fortifications are constructed; but this imposes additional burdens on the
poor Indians, which the governor tries to mitigate by endeavors to protect
them from the oppression that they endure from the Spaniards.
Controversies arise between the various orders, and within that of St
[10]Francis, which are settled by the intervention of the bishop and governor.Reports made by the orders show that over half a million of the natives are
receiving religious instruction; but the bishop deprecates the favorite
missionary policy of gathering the converts into “reductions,” and advises
that all the missions should be placed under the supervision of the bishops.
The foreign population of Manila still increases beyond the safety-line, and
spasmodic efforts are made to restrict it; but corrupt and lax officials render
these of little use. The difficulties involved in the Chinese trade and its
economic effects on the Spanish colonies are still discussed, but without
any satisfactory solution to the problem. The gold mines in northern Luzón
are explored and tested, but with meager results.
A Jesuit at Manila, Alonso Roman, gives the “news from Filipinas” for
1621. He recounts the persecution of Christians that is still continuing in
Japan, with many martyrdoms. Various encounters between the Dutch and
English occur until, an alliance being concluded between Holland and
England, their ships unite to prey on the commerce of China, Portuguese
India, and the Philippines. The writer relates several naval encounters, and
captures of trading ships. In one of these the Chinese, pouring melted sugar
on the enemy, “sent fourteen of the Dutch in a conserve to hell.” Roman
concludes his letter with an account of the tragedy in which Governor
Fajardo slays his wife and her lover (May 11, 1621)—the latter being a
renegade Jesuit, named Joan de Messa. Another account of this affair adds
some minor details.
Fajardo sends his annual despatches to the king (July 21, 1621). He
[11]describes his measures for the prompter despatch of the trading-fleet to
Nueva España, and the recent hostile demonstration made by the Dutch
and English at Manila Bay. He takes all precautions for defense against
them, but is unable to attack them, owing to his lack of troops—a
deficiency which he proceeds to explain. Thus far, the enemy have done
little harm, especially as Fajardo promptly warned the Chinese, and other
trading countries near by, of their arrival. He learns of other hostile fleets
that are preparing to attack the islands, and takes all possible precautions for
their defense. He asks that, until the affairs of the islands are in better
condition, the Audiencia of Manila may be discontinued, as the auditors
embarrass and hinder his efforts, and are not competent to fulfil their duties.
The religious also make the governor’s duties a burden; and their exactions
from the Indians prevent the latter from serving the crown. The Dutch
know betters how to deal with the natives; they exempt the latter from
tributes, personal services, and religious instruction. Little has been done in
opening the Igorrote mines—a task which Fajardo is warned to push
forward. He has sent troops and supplies safely to Ternate. He is having
much trouble in regard to the residencia of his predecessor, the late Juan de
Silva; and complains of the shelter and countenance given to Auditor
Messa by the Dominicans. Fajardo recounts various matters of government
and his procedure therein; also the annoyances and hindrances which he
experiences from the friars. He commends, however, the Jesuits and their
work, suggesting that more of them should be sent to the islands. He is
[12]perplexed and hindered by the lack of soldiers, but is doing his best with
his small forces. The Council orders the viceroy of Nueva España to send
every year to Filipinas all the reenforcements in his power.
The archbishop of Manila sends to the king (July 30, 1621) an account of
ecclesiastical and some other affairs in his diocese. He asks permission