This volume is part of a monumental 55-volume series, The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, compiled and edited in the early 20th century to provide a comprehensive, English-language collection of primary source documents on the history of the Philippine archipelago during the Spanish colonial era. The documents within this specific volume span the years 1617 to 1620, a period characterized by intense political and military pressure on the Spanish colony. The content details the severe maritime conflicts with the Dutch, who sought to gain control of the lucrative East Asian trade, culminating in the major naval engagement known as the Battle of Playa Honda. It also records the internal challenges faced by the colonial government, including chronic financial shortages, the continuous threat of attacks from Moro pirates originating in the southern islands, and rampant corruption and misconduct among high-ranking Spanish officials. The volume’s documents serve as a critical record of the colony's struggle for survival and its central role in the global commercial network that connected Asia, the Americas, and Europe. It provides direct, unfiltered accounts detailing the political, economic, commercial, and religious conditions of the islands during the early 17th century.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 (Vol. 18, 1617-1620)