Of other new misfortunes which occurred in these islands from the year
646 to that of 673; loans given by the Board of Santa Misericordia
to the royal treasury, and the great alms which it gave during that
time; and the transfer of the hospital of the house to the religious
of St. John of God.
[In the years 1637 and 1659 memorials are sent to Spain of the
wretched condition of the islands, occasioned by frequent invasions,
insurrections, repeated loss of ships, and exorbitant royal duties
charged in Acapulco. The ships lost are the following: in 1646,
the galleon "San Luis," on the Cagayan coast, when coming from Nueva
España, and the galleon "Nuestra Señora de Buena Esperanza" on the
island of Negros, while returning from taking reenforcements to
Ternate; in 1648, the ship "Buen Jesus" is burned on its return from
Nueva España in Lampon, to prevent its falling into the hands of the
enemy, and the same year are lost the galleon "Nuestra Señora de Guia"
in the river of Camboja where it is being refitted, and the galleon
"San Antonio de Padua" in Mindoro with the reënforcements which it is
taking to Ternate; October 21, 1649, the flagship "Encarnacion" on the
coast of Bula, while returning from Nueva España; in 1651, the ship
"San Joseph" on the island of Luban, while coming from Camboja, and the
same year the galleon "San Diego" puts back, after leaving for Nueva
España; in 1653, the galleon "San Diego" in Limbones, while returning
from Nueva España; in 1655, the galleon "San Francisco Xavier," in the
bay of Boronga, while returning from Nueva España, with the loss of
many people, a new galleon which has been built in Camboja at great
expense, with the loss of many people; and two merchant ships with
goods belonging to the citizens of Manila; in 1656, two ships after
leaving for Nueva España, put back; in 1669, two ships put back, but
leave in 1670, one of them being burned at Acapulco; and in 1672,
the ship "San Thelmo" puts back. No reenforcements come from Nueva
España in the years 1647, 1652, 1662, and 1663. In 1662, the commerce
of Macao is lost because of the Portuguese revolt against Spain; and
at that time the Portuguese seize a ship with 30,000 pesos which was
intended for the purpose of war supplies for the Spanish monarchy,
and much property belonging to the citizens of Manila. In 1647, a
fleet of thirteen Dutch ships enters the bay of Manila, where they
demolish some of the fortifications, although they are finally driven
off, retiring to the northward where they inflict much damage. The
embassy of the Chinese pirate Cogsen under charge of Fray Victorio
Risio, O.P., throws the city into a flutter, and new fortifications
are pushed apace, a process which however, exhausts the treasury and
the citizens. Sabiniano Manrrique de Lara writes to the brotherhood,
under date of December 14, 1662, asking them to attend the octave
ordered to be held in the cathedral after Christmas. The presidios of
Ternate and Zamboanga are abandoned in view of the approaching trouble
with the Chinese pirate. An earthquake that occurs August 20, 1658,
proves more disastrous than that of 1645. Insurrections in several
provinces in 1660 and 1661 are put down only after great expense,
as is that of the Chinese in 1672. The brotherhood gives alms of more
than ten thousand pesos in 1646 for the equipment of the fleet that
is to oppose the Dutch; in 1650, a second loan of 13,740 pesos for
the expenses of the treasury; another loan of 7,601 pesos, 4 tomins
in 1653, to aid the expenses of the royal army; a fourth loan for the
equipment of fleets and presidios; a fifth of 61,526 pesos, 2 tomins:
a total of 169,099 pesos, 2 tomins. In addition to these loans,
the brotherhood distributes alms to many sources, between the years
1651-1690, the total sum of 172,467 pesos, 7 tomins, 6 granos. May 31,
1656, the purveyor and deputies grant a transfer of the hospital and
all its properties, etc., to the hospital Order of St. John of God, on
the condition that the purveyor and deputies as patrons, may inspect
the hospital once each year, and if they note any defect or neglect
report the same to the prior in order that it may be remedied--a
transfer made because of hard times. The brotherhood continues to
aid the hospital with many alms, notwithstanding its own poverty.]