The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 289 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55.

Chapter tenth.  Of the advice necessary to the religious who come to Manila and go to other countries

1. That the religious leave the islands for other countries without orders from the governor or bishop. First:  His Majesty should be informed of the disorder in these islands which arises from the religious being allowed to leave them whenever they wish, and for any place where they choose to go, and that they have gone four times, without permission of governor, bishop, or any other authority in the islands—­saying that, by the full power given them by the pope, whosoever shall hinder them will be excommunicated.  By these departures they have caused and are causing many losses, and are gathering no harvest of souls.

2. The injuries caused by the departures of the religious. Second:  The injuries on the part of the islands are, that the religious, whom his Majesty sends from Espana at so much cost to himself, declare, as soon as they have arrived here, that they do not come for the islands, but for China; and therefore they do not give themselves to the language of the Indians, or intercourse with them—­but rather, to give color to their own acts in traveling farther to satisfy their curiosity and see new lands, they speak evil of the natives and of the country, thus giving it a bad name, in speech and by letter.  They prevent religious, soldiers, and settlers from coming from Espana and Mexico, while in the islands they disquiet the other religious with desires to travel farther, or to return; and they rouse and excite the seculars and soldiers, so that, moved and deceived by the same curiosity; they should furnish them with fragatas and equipment, and go with them.  Therefore, religious, soldiers, and vessels leave the islands—­all of which has cost his Majesty so much money and causes great want.

3. The wrongs committed in the countries where the religious and the seculars go without orders. Third:  The injuries on the part of the countries whither they go are not less, because those people are all disturbed and offended, and consider the religious as spies and explorers.  Therefore they are continually preparing defenses and building fortifications, as those in China have done, who have added many war vessels and garrisons, because of their suspicions of these departures.  And, as these religious go without order or provision, they cause our affairs—­of both religion and war—­to be held in contempt and ridicule; and the foreigners arrest the religious and soldiers, to whom they offer many insults, while they keep the fragatas and their cargoes—­as they have done five or six times.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 06 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.