ho ignores
the needs and comfort of the nuns. They close with another appeal
for royal aid to finish the building of their convent, and thanks
for the king's effort to secure the canonization of their foundress.
A relation for the year 1635-36 describes the arrival at Manila
of Governor Corcuera, and narrates his controversies with the
archbishop. The account is more detailed and circumstantial than that
of Diaz (given in Vol. XXV); and the two constitute an interesting
chapter, not only of ecclesiastical history but of human nature. The
friars finally send secret envoys to the king, to inform him of
their troubles. News comes from Japon of renewed persecutions of
Christians there, and of the apostasy of the Jesuit provincial for
that kingdom--who has even, it is said, married a heathen woman. At
the end of this document is added a copy of a pasquinade which appeared
at that time in Manila, lampooning the governor and his adherents.
A group of letters from Corcuera (June 30, 1636) constitute his first
annual report to the home government.
Ecclesiastical affairs engross a large part of this document, as would
be expected from the recent occurrence of Corcuera's controversy
with the archbishop. The governor's account of this affair will be
found especially interesting when compared with those presented, in
Vol. XXV, from Jesuit and Recollect sources. We have given more space
to this episode than usual--partly because this contention between the
civil and ecclesiastical authorities is, although but one of many, a
typical and important one; and partly because it affords a favorable
opportunity to view such an episode from the different standpoints
of that time in Manila--a necessary mental process for obtaining
a correct knowledge, not only of this affair, but of all others in
which the like elements of human nature are concerned. The resemblance
of Corcuera's account to that by "a citizen of Manila" is more than
casual, and incidentally throws considerable light on the situation
(as well as on social conditions in Manila). It contains attested
copies of the various documents connected with the controversy.
Another section is devoted to an account of the governor's
difficulties with the religious orders in "subduing the religious to
the understanding that your Majesty alone is their natural seignior;
and the seignior of the said islands." He claims that the Dominicans
are most active of the orders in opposing the go
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