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. 48]

I98

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 48

gard it with displeasure. No one honors the poor
man, however heroic and eminent he may be; his
subordinates serve him unwillingly, and readily
show him insolence. He has no success, for lack of
money; and, in fine, every undertaking costs him immense labors, fatigues, vigilance, and sorrow.
2. It is literally this which is occurring in these
islands. The Moros deride us, and display their superiority compared to our weakness, which certainly
is ignominious to the Catholic arms, and to the
reputation of the [Spanish] nation. When we had
occupies eleven closely-written pages, and serves the double purpose
of an introduction to Viana's memorial and of the official delivery
of the document to the governor-general, as the representative of
his Majesty. This preface rehearses the needy condition of the
islands since the English invasion, entreats the royal aid for these
unfortunate vassals of Spain, and briefly outlines the matter and
arguments of the memorial. Vindel states (Catalogo of I896, p.
94) that the printing of this memorial was forbidden by the
Council of the Indias. It is of much importance, not only as
showing the condition and needs of the islands after the English
invasion, but for the light it throws on the condition of Spain,
her relations with the rest of Europe, and with her colonies, and
the national characteristics of her people. The memorial is here
presented in full, except a few passages which are briefly synopsized, as they have but minor and indirect importance. Viana
writes with authority, as being royal fiscal of the islands, a man
equipped with the best learning of his day, and an ardent patriot.
The university of Salamanca originated in the cathedral school,
before the twelfth century; and in 1243 it was made a university
under the royal protection of Ferdinand the Saint, his son Alfonso
X continuing this aid, enlarging its scope, and granting it many
privileges. Later kings and several popes did much to aid and
strengthen Salamanca, and it became the greatest educational
institution in Spain, and one of the four greatest in the world;
in 1584, it had 6,778 students. In I401 Bishop Diego de Anaya
Maldonado founded the first college for poor students, which was
called the college of San Bartolome, and later "the Old College."
In 1845 Salamanca and all other like institutions were secularized,
and placed under the control of the government. (Ramon Ruiz
Amado, in the new and monumental Catholic Encyclopedia, now
in process of preparation.)