The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 26 of 55, 1636 / 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

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27127

Title

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 26 of 55, 1636 / 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

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This historical compilation details the political, economic, and religious life of the Philippines in 1636. Featuring Governor Corcuera's reports, petitions from the Nuns of St. Clare, and Jesuit accounts of missionary hardships, the volume offers a vivid look at colonial administration, ecclesiastical conflicts, and trade relations with Europe and Asia.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume XXVI of *The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898* offers a comprehensive snapshot of colonial life in the Philippines during the year 1636, centered on the administration of Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera. The volume opens with petitions from the Nuns of St. Clare in Manila, who appeal to King Felipe IV for financial support. They detail their convent's expansion, including a new foundation in Macao, while voicing grievances against Governor Corcuera's arbitrary construction projects that damaged their residence and his removal of Franciscans from hospital administration. Their letter highlights the growing tension between civil authority and religious orders, specifically noting the archbishop's mistreatment and the nuns' desire for a confessor at the hospital. A significant portion of the volume is dedicated to Corcuera's first annual report to the Spanish Crown. In this report, he describes his efforts to reorganize the government, military, and finances to save the royal treasury. He details the massive cargo of the Acapulco galleons, proposing to send cloves and wax to Spain to replenish the king's coffers. Corcuera vigorously defends his administration against accusations of mismanagement, contrasting the obedience of secular clergy with the disobedience of friars. He reports on the persecution of Christians in Japan, the dangers faced by missionaries in Mindanao against Moro pirates, and the internal struggles between different religious orders like the Dominicans, Jesuits, and Franciscans. The volume also includes a poignant letter from Jesuit Cristobal de Lara to a friend in Europe. Lara describes the extreme poverty, lack of food, and constant peril of missionary life in the mountains of Mindanao, where friars face attacks by Moro warriors. He recounts the martyrdom of fellow Jesuits, framing their suffering as a glorious service to God. Financial documents provide a granular view of colonial economics, listing deductions from soldiers' pay to fund the royal hospital and itemizing contributions from various garrisons across the islands. The text concludes with bibliographical data and illustrations, offering a comprehensive, multi-perspective view of the Philippines in the mid-17th century.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Religion
• History
• Travel