the Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 24 of 55: 1630-34; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions Islands and Their Peoples

"T he Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 24 of 55" by Emma Helen Blair, James Alexander Robertson, and Edward Gaylord Bourne is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This volume focuses on the period from 1630 to 1634, documenting explorations, descriptions, and records related to the Philippines during its early interactions with European nations. The book encompasses significant events, such as missionary work, conflicts, and the socio-political climate of the islands, as well as detailed letters and documents from this historical period. At the start of this volume, the authors provide a comprehensive prefatory overview of the concluding installment of Juan de Medina's history of the Augustinian order in the Philippines. Medina recounts key events and characters within the order, including the challenges faced by missionaries, encounters with local populations, and the effects of Dutch attacks on colonial settlements. The opening portion sets the stage for examining the state of the islands during this tumultuous period, detailing both the triumphs and struggles of the missionaries while highlighting the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, including the consequences of colonial rule and the social conditions impacting the indigenous peoples.With the fourth of May, 1596, all the capitular religious of this province of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus of Filipinas assembled, and without much debate cast their votes for father Fray Lorenzo de Leon, [1] a native of the city of Granada, and son of the house at Mejico, whose learning, ability to preach, and other good qualities made him very well known, and caused him to be elected without opposition. Accordingly he won the contest as provincial, to the general liking of all the religious of the province, both those voting and those who had no vote. All were assured that he would govern rightly because of his prudence, and beyond doubt his government was all that. The province during his term had the honor and repute that was proper. Since his method of procedure was alike for all the religious, it was necessary in the following chapter to retire the provincial to his devotion; and one may infer that in that it acted more for the common welfare than its own. Thereupon, the voting religious being assembled, cast their votes, without any opposition, for Fray Juan deMontesdoza, [2] son of the house atMejico, a native of the city of Utrera, near Sevilla in Andalucia. He was a most excel-