This volume covers a crucial period in the Spanish colonial history of the Philippines, focusing on the years 1636 and 1637. The central conflicts of the era—colonial commerce and military defense—are documented through primary source translations. A major focus is the detailed Memorial by Juan Grau y Monfalcón, the procurator for Manila, which passionately argues to the King of Spain against restrictive trade policies between the Philippines and New Spain (Mexico). This document underscores the economic lifeline that the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade represented for the survival of the Spanish colony and its role in the global spice trade against Dutch encroachment. Concurrently, the volume details the decisive military actions taken by Governor Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, including the successful expedition to Mindanao to subdue the formidable Moro chief, Corralat (Kudarat), and end the devastating Moro pirate raids on the northern islands. The volume also touches upon the complex relationship between the colonial government and the Catholic Church, documenting the ecclesiastical controversy between Corcuera and Archbishop Guerrero. These documents collectively reveal the political, military, economic, and religious conditions that defined the Spanish presence in the East Indies during the mid-seventeenth century.
The Philippine Islands, 1493–1898 (Vol. 27, 1636–1637)