The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 301 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 301 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55.

Of the many things which were taken in charge by Father Lorenco de Leon to be attended to in the kingdoms of Espana and Roma, for the benefit of this distant province, not one of the least importance or necessity has been concluded; yet he has spent, just as if he had carried everything through, the assessments and additional contributions which were given him in common by the province.  He has cared only for his private interests and his private claims, as is manifestly shown by the titles that have been lavished upon him ... master, though he has not sufficient learning; and president and vicar-general for all chapters and assemblages, to the manifest injury of the members of this province.  He was received as such, although in violation of law, only in order to avoid contention and scandal.  But he has assumed still more authority, as a result of the liberty which he has, and in the documents which he issues adds the title of provincial and vicar-general.  All this is without the command of your Majesty and of your royal Council of the Indias, and is contrary to the grants made to our provincial fathers of Castilla who have so long exercised a similar office.  This is right, since this province was established and is maintained by them and the honored friars who have come out hither from Espana.  We have greatly suffered from the lack of such Spanish friars, since it is now six years since religious were sent out to us here.  The cause has been the fact that the said father Fray Lorenzo de Leon went thither, and although he might have brought back a noble shipload of them, he did not undertake the work with sufficient diligence—­expecting to obtain friars from Mexico, and to convert to his own use the grants made for such conveyance in Sevilla from your Majesty’s treasury.  The fact is, that although he received a decree and allowance to bring eighteen religious from those provinces, he actually brought only seven to whom the habit of our father St. Augustine belonged.  The other eleven he supplied with laymen who were traveling secretly to the Indias, and he received from them special bribes, putting upon them habits of the order, that they might in this way get as far as the registry in Vera Cruz and afterward return to their own condition.  The said father thus retained in his hands all the allowance which he had received.  I would not dare to make this statement to your Majesty if I did not know it from the relation of those very seven religious whom he brought hither from Espana.  Additional evidence is a letter (which I saw) from Dr. Antonio de Morga, written soon after his arrival in Mexico, in which he gave this information to persons from there.  Nothing has been done in this matter because of the fear and subjection in which the said father Leon has placed those of us who might speak and demand justice for this and other most unjust acts of which he has been guilty.  I testify to your Majesty that his cell and manner of dress are like those of

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.