[1] See account of the founding of the Jesuit missions in China, vol. vi, p. 208. The work begun by Ricci (see vol. xv, p. 178) was continued by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit, who entered China in 1622, remaining there until his death in 1669. He was a noted astronomer and mathematician, and for his learning and talents was greatly esteemed by the Chinese, especially at the imperial court; the reformation of the Chinese calendar was entrusted to him, and rank and emoluments were conferred upon him. The missions in China were not molested by the authorities after 1622; but the conflicts between the Chinese and Tartars, which ended in the overthrow of the Ming dynasty, greatly injured the work of the missionaries from 1630 to 1660. At the time of our text, the Jesuits were on friendly terms with the authorities, and their work prospered especially in Peking. See account of Catholic missions in China, in Williams’s Middle Kingdom, ii, pp. 290–325; and in Crétineau-Joly’s Hist. Comp. de Jésus, iii, pp. 165–184.
Letters from Juan Cerezo de Salamanca to Felipe IV
Revenue affairs
Sire:
I informed your Majesty by way of Yndia, on the twenty-second of October of last year, of the treasury matters, and of the resistance which these royal officials were making about accepting the new ordinances that were left them by the visitor, Don Francisco de Roxas, by having appealed from them, and having represented in the royal Council of the Yndias the impossibility of being able to comply with these in the service of your Majesty. Notwithstanding their allegations, and the resignation of their offices which they made in writing, I continued, by what methods I could avail myself of, to urge them to accept the said ordinances of the visitor. As they persevered in their disobedience, I arrested all three royal officials, and kept them together in the treasury, so that the despatch [of business] might not cease; thereupon they obeyed, and from that time on we have been following the new ordinances. Although I blamed the too great resistance which they made, ever since I have excused them somewhat, through having experienced the great inconvenience and embarrassments which some of the ordinances contained; and I confess how prudent they were in the exercise of their authority before they experienced the present damage. Matters are in such condition that while I am trying to adjust myself to the new ordinances and not to depart one jot from them, I find myself more embarrassed, and the despatches that demand the greatest haste delayed—as happened to me in the stress of sending the reënforcements in a fleet which I sent to Terrenate this year, in which consisted the security of those forts, which were in danger. It was necessary for me to facilitate it by making use of the precedents of other times. Now, in order to fulfil my obligation, I assure you that what most is needed in Philipinas is the facilitation of the course of business, and the choice of [government] ministers who are entirely trustworthy; for in so remote provinces where all is invasion from the enemy, it will be most difficult to succeed in performing your Majesty’s service, if the jurisdiction and authority are so limited. In order to be able to await what your Majesty may be pleased [to order], I have adopted, in certain doubts, the expedient which has seemed most advisable, after holding meetings and consulting with persons in whom I have confidence.
One of these new ordinances directs that the governor shall deliver, whether in large or small quantity, all the goods and wares of these magazines which are used for various purposes. Those which are in danger of spoiling shall be distributed by his order; and what shall not be thus disposed of shall not be passed over, at the time, to the royal officials. That ordinance is impractical, for, besides the continual occupations of the governor in affairs of greater importance and his inability to personally supervise things so minute, your Majesty had issued the necessary ordinance before the visit, and I have followed it in the preparation of fleets and reëenforcements; and I do not pay any attention to the delivery in small quantities when that is necessary. But I am endeavoring to make it understood that it is impossible to do so always, without obstructing the despatches which usually demand attention suddenly. What is of importance to the service of your Majesty is that we, the governor, royal officials, and other ministers, are attending to the best administration of the royal revenues.
In accordance with these new ordinances, the alcaldes-mayor, the assistants of the royal officials, and shipmasters must annually settle their accounts exactly. Because of the difficulty of navigation between some of the islands, it is impossible to obey this ordinance to the letter, or to cease receiving from such men at the time of [settling] the account, what their salaries allow, as the emoluments which they receive are small or nothing. Thus do we continue to proceed, according to the weather-conditions of the season, and the distance [from Manila] of the places where they live.
Whenever ships or fleets have been despatched, some advance pay has been given to the regular sailors and soldiers. It is a harsh measure that because we do not have, for all the greater and less matters that arise, a distinct decree from your Majesty which is in accord with one of the new ordinances, the royal officials should continually impugn and oppose the orders that exist in some of the same matters; and although there should be nothing else to do than to obey the ordinances, the greater part of the time is passed in summons and replies. I have received in these ships a royal decree from your Majesty, under date of August 26 of the past year, in which your Majesty is pleased to order me to collect two per cent on the merchandise exported to Nueva España, in addition to the other three per cent that has been paid hitherto, in accordance with what the visitor agreed with this city by way of a gracious gift; and that on the first occasion [word illegible in MS.; I make?] decision of what must be observed, and give information whether this duty is collected here, or whether the benefit of it is obtained along with the situado of these islands. I caused it to be obeyed and executed according to its contents. And in order that these citizens might appraise their goods in accordance with this order I had the said royal decree published in the usual places, and it was communicated to the cabildo, judiciary, and magistracy of this city. Seeing that the citizens were exceedingly remiss in lading, and the time far advanced for the ships to make their voyage, I proceeded to stimulate them by edicts and orders, and finally by placing them under the penalty of losing the favors which your Majesty has granted them in allowing the five hundred thousand pesos that are brought every year from Nueva España. The city replied to that by appealing from my act and from the said royal decree to your Majesty, as the relation given by the visitor was not in harmony with the acts, and as their citizens had not made any [such] agreement. The four thousand pesos which they gave as a donation was for that time, provided that no further action should be taken regarding this duty until the matter had been discussed in the royal Council of the Yndias. In proof of it, the visitor embarked without having made a beginning in this collection. After many discussions, the citizens had resolved not to lade any goods at present for Nueva España. I gave a copy of all this to the fiscal and the royal officials. I resolved [not] to despatch the ships without cargoes, and even to take the boxes and bales from where they should be found and actually put them on board the ships; but the auditors and officials believed that it would be contrary to law to force the citizens. Therefore I determined to call a meeting of the Audiencia, archbishop, fiscal, and royal officials, in order to determine what ought to be done in this matter. All were of the opinion that the ships should be laded, even though we should postpone the fulfilment of what your Majesty lately ordered, for the damage that would ensue from the ships going empty would be beyond comparison far greater than the gain of the two per cent; and that the appeal interposed by the citizens ought to be granted, as it was apparent that the report which the visitor had made was different from what had actually and truly taken place. In accordance with this, the city has given bonds for all the sum to which this duty can amount, now and henceforth, until your Majesty be pleased to provide what is most advisable. In order that this may be apparent from the investigations, I enclose herewith a testimony of the acts.