The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.
with due submission, giving information that is reliable, and derived from experience, of the injuries both to the public and to individuals which this commonwealth, and we the religious of the Order of our father St. Augustine, are suffering from the presence of Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, archbishop of this archiepiscopal see—­who, we believe, should be occupying a cell in some convent of his order in exemplary and peaceful life, as he did before he rose to the position of bishop and to the dignity which today he holds.  In that position, [1] either because he wishes to assume more authority in the [ecclesiastical] government than is his due, or on account of some grave scruples which, continually increasing, so harass and disquiet him that were not the valor and prudence of Don Pedro de Acuna, governor of these islands, so great, and the royal Audiencia which your Majesty has here composed of councillors so wise, Christian, and moderate, fear would often have arisen (and with good cause) of various scandals for which the said prelate has given occasion.  For with his revelations and prophecies, of which your Majesty has been informed, he publicly stated that the Chinese were about to rebel, from which it resulted that poor soldiers, and other persons who belong to peoples that resort here, were eager for such an opportunity; and it is believed that the cowardly Chinese were thus led to mutiny and rebellion, putting this whole land in danger.  All this arose from the fears of the archbishop, which were not communicated to the person who could, without exciting comment, have taken precautions and prevented the trouble—­namely, the governor, with whom he has usually had collisions.  These were principally in matters concerning the royal patronage, which loses footing out here; [such conduct is therefore] the less to be tolerated.  Your Majesty will have heard long ago of some ill result, for the governor has tried to manage the archbishop with due gentleness, treating him with respect, giving him a wide range in affairs, and temporizing with him in order to avoid contention.  During his sicknesses, which are frequent, the governor has entertained him as a guest in his own house, keeping him there a long time.  This has been of so little use that he takes every opportunity to disturb, and sometimes without opportunity disturbs, the general peace—­at which all of us, not only ecclesiastics but laymen, are so distressed that there is no way of expressing it to your Majesty.  We believe that if it were possible for you in Espana to see how we suffer here, your Majesty would immediately remedy it; for we are led to think that you do not realize the trouble which this matter is causing, or else that it is one which is not to be discussed as it should be, on account of the archbishop’s many scruples.  As a result, the condition of affairs is intolerable, which is a most unfortunate thing and one of great importance.  Accordingly, as he is a prelate and we are religious, we are writing to your Majesty’s Grandeur; and we make these statements with great circumspection, that it may not seem as if passion were carrying us away.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.