The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; 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, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 24]

I630-I634]

PREFACE

I7

orders to send missionaries to Japan, but it proves
a failure. The canonization of Japanese martyrs is
the occasion for magnificent spectacles in Manilaprocessions, dances, comedies, etc. Irritated by
harsh treatment from an arrogant Spanish officer,
the Indians of Caragan revolt, killing the Spaniards,
among whom are several missionaries; but troops
from Cebui are sent there, and quell the rising.
Resuming the miscellaneous documents of that
period, letters are sent to Manila (December, I630)
by the king regarding various matters that have been
referred to him. Felipe orders that certain offices
shall be sold; that the natives must pay at least part
of their tributes in kind; and that the salaries of the
auditors be more promptly paid. Command is given
that war-ships in the islands be no longer built so
large as hitherto, as they are expensive, unwieldy,
and in some circumstances useless. A letter to the
auditors gives directions for the method of procedure
in trying certain cases of appeal; and answers some
questions which the auditors had asked. Bishop
Arce, of Cebui, writes to the king (July 31, 163I).
He congratulates Felipe on the birth of a son; comments on some royal decrees just received; recommends a person as schoolmaster in the Manila
church; and advises the appointment of the royal
fiscal as protector of the Sangleys.
Early in 1632 several royal orders are despatched
to the colony. In a letter of January 27, the king
writes to Tavora on several matters: the monopoly
of the sale of playing-cards, the sale of offices, and
the salary of the acting archbishop. A decree of
March 25, addressed to the municipal authorities of
Manila, warns them to enforce the royal decrees as