ian order in the Filipinas Islands
(to be concluded). Juan de Medina, O.S.A.; 1630 [but printed
at Manila, 1893]
Bibliographical Data

ILLUSTRATIONS

Monument in Manila to Legazpi and Urdaneta; from a photograph
in possession of the Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos,
Valladolid 125
Map of the Marianas Islands (with large inset of the island of
Guam); photographic facsimile of Bellin's map in _Historische
Beschryving der Reizen_ (Amsterdam, 1758), xvii, p. 6; from
copy in library of Wisconsin Historical Society 135
View of boat of the Ladrone Islands; from engraving in
_Histoire generale des voyages_ (Paris, 1753) xi, facing
p. 171; from copy in the library of Wisconsin Historical
Society 139
Exterior of Augustinian church and convent, Manila; from
plate in possession of the Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos,
Valladolid 205

PREFACE

The present volume contains but few documents relating to current
affairs in 1629-30, the greater part of its space being occupied with
the Augustinian Medina's history of his order in the Philippines to
1630; but the annual reports of the governor present an interesting
view of the colony's affairs at that time. As usual, the colonial
treasury is but slenderly provided with the funds necessary for
carrying on the government, and Tavora proposes expedients for
obtaining these, and for utilizing hitherto neglected resources of
the country. He has to contend with hostility on the part of the
royal officials, and apathy in Mexico as to the welfare of the far
western colony dependent on it. The southern Malays are hostile,
but thus far have been held in check; and threatened hostilities
with Japan have been averted. Medina's history is of course largely
religious; but it contains considerable mention of secular events and
of social and economic conditions. The length of this work obliges
us to synopsize such matter as is of secondary importance, and to
conclude our translation of it in _Vol_. XXIV.

A royal decree (April 6, 1629) commands the provincials of the
religious orders in the Spanish colonies to heed the rights of
the royal patronage in making or changing appointments to mission
posts. The leading Dominican officials in Manila write (May 12,
1629) to the king, informing him that the country is in a ruinous
condition from the piracies of the Dutch, which have also broken
up the trade of the islan