This volume covers the final years of Miguel López de Legazpi's administration, the entire governorship of Guido de Lavezaris, and the beginning of the term of Francisco de Sande. The documents detail the crucial first decade of Spanish occupation (1565-1575) , including the formal foundation of the city of Manila in 1571-1572 and the establishment of the Spanish seat of government in Luzon. The content captures the tensions of the period, such as the hostility and territorial conflicts with the Portuguese and the subjugation of native communities, especially in Luzon. A central theme is the political and ethical controversy over the tribute system and the encomiendas (allotment of lands and natives) , featuring the Augustinian Fray Martín de Rada's strong denouncement of the Spanish conquest as unjust and oppressive , which drew a written rebuttal from Governor Lavezaris and other officials. The documents also record the growing trade and strategic importance of relations with China.
The Philippine Islands, 1493–1803 (Vol. 3, 1569-1576)