This volume covers a turbulent four-year span in the early Spanish colonial history of the Philippines (1599-1602). It details a critical period marked by significant foreign and domestic threats, most notably the naval battle against the Dutch fleet led by Oliver van Noordt, a major conflict that exposed the colony’s vulnerabilities. Compounding this, the Spanish settlements, particularly the Visayan Islands, were subject to constant and destructive raids by Moro pirates following a Spanish troop withdrawal from Mindanao. Internally, the documents reveal a struggling colonial administration characterized by a poor royal treasury, rampant fraud, and official corruption, prompting the enactment of numerous ordinances by the Audiencia of Manila to regulate everything from court fees and trade with China to the collection of native tributes. The documents also provide extensive reports from the Jesuit missions, illustrating their efforts to evangelize and "civilize" the native population through the establishment of schools and hospitals in Manila, Cebu, and other areas. The period concludes with the appointment of a new governor, Pedro de Acuña, who was tasked by the King of Spain to implement extensive reforms to strengthen the colony’s defense and rectify its financial and political instability.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 (Vol. 11, 1599-1602)