Breve Resumen Y Noticia Del Descubrimiento Dela Nueva España, Demarcacion Y Descripcion De Aguellas Provincias, Divididas En Las Cinco Audiencias Que La Goviernan ; Estado De Sus Iglesias ; Sus Erecci
Resumen del Libro
A copy, made in 1786 for use by Matías González, of Villanuevas 1750 history of the discovery, settlement, and government–both political and ecclesiastical–of New Spain, including material on Mexico, most of Central America, Florida, the Caribbean islands, Venezuela, and the Philippines. There is an introductory section on the discovery of the New World, the naming of America, and copies of papal bulls giving Spain responsibility for the christianization of America, the appointment of bishops and clergy, and the collection of tithes. Villanueva describes the principal cities and towns of each part of New Spain, and outlines a brief history of each diocese, giving the date of the founding, the names of bishops who have served, and a short summary of the distribution of tithes in each. The last 43 leaves concern the history of the Philippines and their discovery by Magellan in 1521. Villanueva discusses the organization of the provinces on the islands of Luzon, Leyte, Negros, Cebu, Mindanao and others, and includes details on the geographical location of each island, the navigation of their coasts, and the conquest of the Marianas. He lists the various episcopal sees in the Philippines and the names of the governing bishops through 1739.
