The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898, Volume XXV, 1635 36
V >> Various >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898, Volume XXV, 1635 36The 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 XXV, 1635-36
Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson
with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord
Bourne.
CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXV
Preface 9
Documents of 1635
Laws regarding navigation and commerce, 1611-35. Felipe III
and Felipe IV; 1611-35 23
Royal decrees, 1633-35. Felipe IV; Madrid, 1633-35 38
Memorial to the king, in the year 1635. Juan Grao y
Monfalcon; Madrid, September 6 48
Manila treasury accounts, 1630-35. Geronimo de ----, and
Francisco Antonio Manzelo; August 18, 1638 74
Letter of consolation to the Jesuits of Pintados. Juan de Bueras,
S.J.; Manila, February 1 87
Letter to Felipe IV. Andres del Sacramento, O.S.F.; Nueva Caceres,
June 2 95
Letter from the Franciscan commissary-general of the Indias.
Francisco de Ocana, O.S.F.; Madrid, June 28 98
Opinion of Council and royal decree concerning request of
Manila Jesuits for alms. Felipe IV, and others; Madrid,
July 10 100
Letter to Felipe IV. Pedro de Arce; Manila, October 17 104
Documents of 1636
Discussion regarding Portuguese trade at Manila. Joseph de
Navada Alvarado, and others; 1632-36 111
Decree extending the tenure of encomiendas. Felipe IV;
Madrid, February 1 145
Military services of Filipinos. Juan Grau y Monfalcon;
[Madrid], June 13 148
Conflicts between civil and ecclesiastical authorities,
1635-36. Casimiro Diaz, O.S.A.; from his _Conquistas de
las Islas Filipinas_ (published at Valladolid, 1890, but written
early in eighteenth century) 151
Letter from a citizen of Manila to an absent friend. [Unsigned;
Fabian de Santillan y Gavilanes?]; Manila, June 15 201
Request for Jesuit missionaries. Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera;
Cavile, June 19 297
Letter from the bishop of Nueva Caceres to Felipe IV. Francisco
de Zamudio, O.S.A.; Manila, June 20 301
List of prominent ecclesiastics in Manila and the islands.
Hernando de Guerrero, archbishop of Manila; 1636 305
Bibliographical Data 321
ILLUSTRATIONS
Map of portion of Philippine Islands and other eastern islands;
photographic facsimile of original Portuguese MS. map of 1635,
by Pedro Berthelot, in the British Museum 56, 57
View of Chinese junks; photographic facsimile of engraving in
_Recueil des voiages Comp. Indes Orient_. Pais-Bas (Amsterdam, 1725)
iii, p. 285; from copy in the library of Wisconsin Historical
Society 116 Plan of the "island of Manila;" drawn by a Portuguese
artist, _ca._ 1635; photographic facsimile of the original MS. map
in British Museum 133
Autograph signature of Sebastian de Corcuera; photographic facsimile
from MS. in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 299
PREFACE
The scope of the present volume (1635-36) is mainly commercial and
financial matters on the one hand, and ecclesiastical affairs on the
other. The paternalistic tendencies of the Spanish government are
obvious in the former direction, with various restrictions on trade,
and annoying imposts on all classes of people. The Portuguese of Macao
are accused of ruining the Chinese trade with the islands, absorbing it
to their own profit and the injury of the Spaniards. In ecclesiastical
circles, the topic of prime interest is the controversy between
Governor Corcuera and Archbishop Guerrero, ending in the latter's
exile to Mariveles Island; it is an important episode in the continual
struggle between Church and State for supremacy, and as such rightly
demands large space and attention in this series. In this and several
other documents may be noticed the steadily increasing influence and
power of the Jesuit order in the Philippines at that period.
From _Recopilacion de leyes de las Indias_ (lib. ix, tit. xxxxv)
are compiled a series of laws relating to navigation and commerce,
dated from 1611 to 1635--in continuation of those already given in
VOL. XVII of this series. Married men going from Nueva Espana must
take their wives also, or provide for them while absent. Convents
shall not allow Chinese merchandise to be concealed in their
houses. Royal officials who may sail in any fleet sent from Spain
to the Philippines are forbidden to carry any merchandise thither on
their private accounts. Flour for government use in the islands shall
be provided there, and not be brought from Nueva Espana. The lading
on the trading ships to that country must be allotted more equitably,
and for the general welfare of the Philippine colonists. Disabled
or incapable seamen must not be taken on these ships; provision is
made for the protection and safety of the Indian deck-hands thereon;
and only persons of rank are allowed to carry more than one slave
each. Trade between Mexico and Peru is again forbidden; and private
persons in the Philippines are not permitted to send ships, soldiers,
or seamen to the mainland or other regions outside the islands. The
valuation of merchandise taken to Nueva Espana from Filipinas shall
be made at Mexico, according to certain regulations. The officers of
the trading ships shall be paid for four months only, each voyage; and
the ships must leave Acapulco by December, and reach the islands by
March. Extortion from the sailors by the royal officials at Acapulco
is strictly forbidden. The official appointed to inspect the Chinese
ships at Manila must be chosen, not by the governor alone, but by him
and the Audiencia jointly. The shipment of money from New Mexico to
Filipinas in excess of the amount allowed is forbidden under heavy
penalties. The governors of Filipinas must keep the shipyards well
equipped and provided. The ships that sail thence to Nueva Espana
must depart in June; and careful account must be taken, by special
officials, of all goods in the cargoes, and of all that the vessels
carry on the return trip.
A group of royal decrees and orders occurs during the years 1633-35,
concerning various interests of the Philippines. The viceroy of Nueva
Espana is ordered (September 30, 1633) to see that the seamen needed
in the islands be well treated at Acapulco, and allowed to invest some
money in the Mexican trade. The governor of the Philippines is warned
(March 10, 1634) to see that the lading of vessels in that trade be
equitably allotted to the citizens. The viceroy is directed, at the
same time, to send more reenforcements of men to the islands. The
moneys granted to the city for its fortifications have been diverted
to the general fund; the governor is notified (September 9, 1634)
to correct this, and, two months later, to prevent the Portuguese
of Macao from trading in the islands. Again (February 16, 1635)
he is directed to prevent people from leaving the Philippines, and
religious from going to Japan; and at the same time is despatched
a reply to the Audiencia regarding some matters of which they had
informed the king. The governor is ordered (November 5, 1635) to see
that the garrisons in Ternate are regularly changed.
Juan Grau y Monfalcon, procurator-general for the Philippines at the
Spanish court, memorializes the king (1635) regarding the importance
of those islands to Spain, which country should preserve her domain
there, not only for the service of God and the spread of the Catholic
faith, but for the increase of the royal revenues. The writer gives
a summary of the Chinese population in the islands, and the extent
of their trade; the number of Indians paying tribute, and their
products. The Spaniards of Manila are greatly impoverished by their
losses in conflagrations and shipwrecks, and need royal aid. If it
be not given them, Manila will be lost to the Dutch, whose increasing
power and wealth in the Orient is described. Especially do they request
the abolition of the additional duty of two per cent on goods exported
to Nueva Espana, which they are unable to pay. The history of this tax
is outlined, and numerous reasons for its abolition are adduced. The
inhabitants of Manila no longer make large profits in their trade
with Nueva Espana; nor are the expenses of that trade such a burden as
formerly on the royal treasury. The same results are really obtained
from the tax levied on the Chinese goods that are carried to Manila,
and this additional tax is too heavy a burden on the people. The royal
duties alone amount to twenty-seven per cent on their investments of
capital, and the costs and expenses to even a greater sum. Too much
pressure of this sort will cause the people of Manila to abandon
entirely a profitless trade; in that case the customs duties would
cease, and the islands would fall into the hands of the Dutch. The
misfortunes and losses of Manila by fires and shipwrecks must also
be taken into account, as well as the loyalty with which they serve
the crown--always ready to risk their lives and property for it, and
often loaning money to the treasury in its needs. The royal fiscal
makes reply to this document, advising the royal Council to give this
matter very careful attention, and to consider not only the need of the
inhabitants but the low condition of the royal finances; he recommends
mild measures. The procurator thereupon urges, in brief, some of his
former arguments (also citing precedents) for the discontinuance of
the two per cent duty. An interesting compilation from the accounts
of the royal treasury at Manila shows the total receipts in each
of its different funds for the five years ending January 1, 1635,
each year separately.
A letter of consolation to the Jesuits of Pintados who have suffered
so much from the Moro pirates is sent out (February 1, 1635) by
the provincial of the order, Juan de Bueras. Andres del Sacramento,
a Franciscan friar at Nueva Caceres, complains to the king (June 2,
1635) of interference in the affairs of that order by certain brethren
of the Observantine branch, who have by their schemes obtained control
of the Filipinas province; and asks that the king assign the province
to one or the other branch, allowing no one else to enter it. About
the same time, a high Franciscan official at Madrid writes, probably
to one of the king's councilors, promising to investigate and punish
certain lawless acts by Manila friars of his order.
The Jesuits of Manila having asked for a grant from the royal treasury
to rebuild their residence there, the matter is discussed in the royal
Council, and a decree issued (July 10, 1635) ordering the governor
of the Philippines to investigate the need for such appropriation,
and to report it, with other information, to the king. Pedro de Arce,
who has been ruler _ad interim_ of the archdiocese of Manila, notifies
the king (October 17, 1635) of his return to his own bishopric of
Cebu; and of his entrusting to the Jesuits the spiritual care of the
natives of Mindanao, where the Spanish fortress of Zamboanga has been
recently established. He asks the king to confirm this, and to send
them more missionaries of their order.
In 1632 a memorial is presented before the municipal council of Manila
by one of its regidors, representing the injuries and losses arising
from the trade which has been commenced there by the Portuguese of
Macao. It seems that they have absorbed the trade formerly carried on
by the Chinese with Manila, and have so increased the prices of goods
that the citizens cannot make a profit on the goods that they send to
Nueva Espana. Navada presents seventeen considerations and arguments
regarding this condition of affairs. He states that in earlier years
the authorities of Manila forbade the Portuguese to come to Manila,
for the same reasons that are now so urgent; that investments of
capital are now seldom made by citizens of the Philippines, for lack
of returns thereon; and that the royal revenues are defrauded by the
enormous losses in the proceeds from the customs duties on the goods
brought by the Portuguese, as compared with those realized on the goods
of the Sangley traders. The Portuguese are making enormous profits, and
this is ruining the citizens of the islands; moreover, they buy their
goods from the Chinese at sufficient prices to satisfy the latter,
and they misrepresent the condition and actions of the Spaniards, so
that the Chinese are prevented from coming to Manila. The Portuguese
will make no fair agreement as to prices, and some of them remain
in Manila to sell their left-over goods; and these even ship goods
to Nueva Espana in the royal ships, with the connivance of certain
citizens--all of which defrauds the Spaniards, and violates the royal
decrees. Moreover, the Portuguese bring from China only silks, for
the sake of the great profits thereon; while cotton cloth and other
articles needed by the poor (which formerly were supplied by the
Sangleys) are now scarce and high-priced. The Portuguese should be
forbidden to carry on the China trade; this would quickly restore its
conduct by the Chinese themselves, and funds to the royal treasury
from the increase in customs duties. Manila is the only market for
this trade, and can easily hold it. The Portuguese have even carried
their insolence so far as to attack the Chinese trading ships (for
which the Audiencia has neglected to render justice to the Chinese);
they also ill-treat Spaniards who go to trade at Macao, and deal
dishonestly with those who let them sell goods on commission. If
the Portuguese are forbidden to trade in Manila, the Chinese will
again come to trade; the citizens will enjoy good profits on their
investments, and incomes from their possessions in the Parian. This
memorial by Navada is discussed by the city council, who unanimously
decide to adopt his recommendations and to place the matter before
the governor and the citizens. The Spanish government favor (1634-36)
depriving the Portuguese of the Manila trade, and decrees are sent
to the islands empowering the governor and other officials to do
what seems best in the case. To these papers are added a letter to
the king by Juan Grau y Monfalcon, urging that the decree of 1593
be reissued, forbidding any Spanish vassals to buy goods in China,
these to be carried to Manila by the Chinese at their own risk. He
submits, with his letter, tables showing the comparative amounts of
duties collected at Manila on the goods brought by the Chinese and the
Portuguese respectively; also a copy of the aforesaid decree of 1593.
A royal decree of February 1, 1636, prolongs the tenure of encomiendas
for another generation, in certain of the Spanish colonies, in
consideration of contributions by the holders to the royal treasury;
and various directions are given for procedure therein. The procurator
Monfalcon, in a letter to the king (June 13, 1636), commends the
military services of the Filipinos, and asks for some tokens of royal
appreciation of their loyalty.
An account of conflicts between the civil and ecclesiastical
authorities in 1635-36 is taken from the _Conquistas_ of the
Augustinian writer Fray Casimiro Diaz. With this main subject he
interpolates other matters from the general annals of that time. Among
these is a relation of the piratical raids of the Moros into Leyte
and Panay in 1634; the invaders kill a Jesuit priest. In June of
the following year arrives the new governor, Sebastian Hurtado de
Corcuera. At the same time, Archbishop Guerrero begins his rule
over the churches of the islands; and controversies at once arise
between him and the governor over the royal patronage and other
church affairs. Among these is an attempt to divide the Dominican
province into two, which is favored by Corcuera. This arouses bitter
controversies, which involve both ecclesiastics and laymen and many
conflicting interests. A case occurs in Manila in which a criminal's
right of sanctuary in a church is involved; this leads to various
complications between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities,
involving also the religious orders--the Jesuits siding with the
governor, the other orders with the archbishop. The successive events
and acts in this controversy are quite fully related, the writer,
as would naturally be expected, placing most of the blame upon the
governor. A truce is made between the parties (January, 1636),
but it soon falls apart and the quarrels begin anew; they go to
such lengths that finally (in May of that year) the archbishop is
sent into exile on Mariveles Island, in Manila Bay. The cathedral
cabildo take charge _ad interim_ of the archdiocese. Within a month,
however, the archbishop is released, and permitted to return to the
charge of his diocese, but on humiliating conditions. Diaz notes
that ever after this episode Governor Corcuera was followed by
losses, troubles, and afflictions; that many of his relatives and
partisans came to untimely ends; that the archiepiscopal palace of
that time was utterly destroyed in subsequent earthquakes; and that
after the persecution of the archbishop the sardines in Manila Bay
almost wholly disappeared. Even after the prelate's restoration,
other controversies arise, which embitter his few remaining years;
and he narrowly escapes capture by the Moro pirates.
Another account of the contentions of the governor with the archbishop
and the orders is that given in a "letter written by a citizen of
Manila to an absent friend" (June 15, 1636); it is obtained from
one of the Jesuit documents preserved at Madrid. The events of
that controversy are narrated from a different standpoint than
Diaz's--defending the governor and the Jesuits, and blaming the
friars for having caused most of the trouble. The writer makes his
account more valuable by presenting various documents and letters
concerned in the affair; and describes many occurrences that do not
appear in other accounts. This letter is also avowedly despatched to
refute certain statements made by the Dominicans in their version of
the controversy of 1635-36. It is evidently written by some friend
of the Jesuits who was a lawyer--possibly by Fabian de Santillan,
whom they appointed judge-conservator against the bishop. In it is a
curiously lifelike and interesting picture of the dissensions that then
involved all circles of Manila officialdom, both civil and religious;
and of certain aspects of human nature which are highly interesting,
even if not always edifying.
Governor Corcuera writes to Felipe IV (June 19, 1636), commending the
Jesuits and their work in the islands, and asking that more of them
be sent thither, in preference to those of other orders. The bishop
of Nueva Caceres also writes by the same mail, commending Corcuera
and complaining of the hostility displayed by the orders against the
governor, and of their ambition and arrogance. The bishop (himself an
Augustinian) arraigns all the friar orders except his own, in scathing
terms, saying of these religious: "They live without God, without king,
and without law, ... as they please, and there is no further law than
their own wills." "They say openly in their missions that they are
kings and popes." Zamudio accuses them of being "notorious traders,"
of domineering over both the Indians and the alcaldes-mayor, and of
infringing upon the royal patronage; and claims that the conduct of
the Franciscans in Camarines is such that he cannot remain there in
his own diocese. He ascribes the late troubles with the archbishop
mainly to the mischievous influence of the friars, and explains
his restoration to his see as "the act of a Christian gentleman"
on Corcuera's part. The friars in Zamudio's diocese have refused to
let him make a visitation among them, although he obtained from the
governor a guard of soldiers to protect him. He recommends that the
friars be deprived of their missions, and replaced by secular priests.
The archbishop of Manila furnishes (1636) a list of the persons
composing the ecclesiastical cabildo of the Manila cathedral; and
another, of ecclesiastics outside that body from whom might well
be supplied any positions in the cabildo which his Majesty might be
pleased to declare vacant. In each case the archbishop mentions various
particulars of the man's age, family, qualifications for office, etc.,
and of his career thus far in the Church. According to the archbishop,
some of those now in the cabildo are quite unworthy or incompetent
for such positions.
_The Editors_
April, 1905.
DOCUMENTS OF 1635
Laws regarding navigation and commerce, 1611-35. Felipe III
and Felipe IV; 1611-35.
Royal decrees, 1633-35. Felipe IV; 1633-35.
Memorial to the king, in the year 1635. Juan Grao y Monfalcon;
September 6.
Manila treasury accounts, 1630-35. Geronimo de ----, and
Francisco Antonio Manzelo; August 13, 1638.
Letter of consolation to the Jesuits of Pintados. Juan de
Bueras, S.J.; February 1.
Letter to Felipe IV. Andres del Sacramento, O.S.F.; June 2.
Letter from the Franciscan commissary-general of the
Indias. Francisco de Ocana, O.S.F.; June 28.
Opinion of Council and royal decree concerning request of
Manila Jesuits for alms. Felipe IV, and others; July 10.
Letter to Felipe IV. Pedro de Arce; October 17.
_Sources_: The first of these documents is taken from the _Recopilacion
de leyes de Indias_, lib. ix, tit. xxxxv; the second, from the
"Cedulario Indico" in the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid; the
third, from a MS. in the Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid; the fourth,
sixth, and seventh, from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias,
Sevilla; the fifth, from a MS. in the Academia Real de la Historia,
Madrid; and the last two, from Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor
evangelica_.
_Translations_: All these documents are translated by James
A. Robertson.
LAWS REGARDING NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE
[The first installment of these laws is given in VOL. XVII,
pp. 27-50. The laws in the present installment date from 1611 to
1635. The method of treatment is the same as in the laws of the
above volume.]
LAW XXX
The viceroy of Nueva Espana shall not allow any married man to pass
thence to Filipinas unless he take his wife with him, or unless he
have permission to leave the country for a limited time, after giving
bonds that he will return within the time set; and provided he leave
his wife what is necessary for her support. In no other way [shall
he be allowed to go]. [Felipe III--Guadarrama, November 12. 1611.]
LAW XXXIII
Many religious and laymen come to these kingdoms from the Filipinas
Islands by way of Eastern India, abandoning their ministries and
employments. We order the governor and captain-general to be very
careful about applying the remedy, and that he give notice of this
to the bishops and to the superiors of the orders in what pertains
to them; and the said governor shall maintain especial watch over the
laymen so that they may not go by that route. [Felipe III--Valladolid,
November 4, 1612.]
LAW LXXII
We charge the regular prelates that they watch very carefully and give
strict commands in all the convents and houses of their orders, that
under no consideration shall Chinese merchandise be concealed or hidden
therein; and any violation of this rule shall be punished. [Felipe
III--Valladolid, August 20, 1615.]
LAW XLVI
Our fiscal of the royal Audiencia of Manila shall take part in the
allotment of the toneladas that are allowed to be distributed; and
it shall be done with his consent and in his presence. In the same
way he shall be present at the transaction of business in our royal
treasury. Nothing shall be attended to unless he be present, and he
shall endeavor to avoid the losses and injuries that may arise in
the aforesaid [his absence]. [Felipe III--Merida, May 4, 1619.]
LAW XXXVII
If any foreigners are engaged in the Filipinas Islands in the
occupation of sailors, or if they come to Nueva Espana in the ships,
in the line of that trade-route, they shall not be molested, nor shall
they be obliged to make agreements. If any trouble result from this,
we order the viceroy of Nueva Espana and the governor of Filipinas
to advise us thereof in our Council of the Indias, so that suitable
measures may be taken. [Felipe III--Santaren, October 13, 1619.]
LAW VII
It may be necessary and advisable to send a fleet from these kingdoms
to the Filipinas Islands by the cape of Buena Esperanza or the straits
of Magallanes and San Vicente. Those who shall sail to serve us may
happen to carry in the fleet investments of merchandise, wines, oils,
and other things, and with that object undertake that voyage, and be
the cause of delay or loss to the fleet by their making a pretext of
difficulties, from which might result great inconveniences. In order
that such may be prevented, we order that when any such fleet shall
be sent, no person, of whatever rank or condition he be, shall lade
or allow to be laded in it any of the aforesaid goods, under penalty
of losing his life and of the confiscation of his property. If such
a thing happens [_i.e._, that a fleet be despatched], this law shall
be proclaimed in the port whence the said fleet sails, so that it
may be obeyed and observed. [Felipe III--Madrid, December 12, 1619.]