Letter to Felipe II.  Francisco de Sande; May 30, 1579.

    Expeditions to Borneo, Jolo, and Mindanao.  Francisco de Sande,
    and others; April 19, 1578 to June 10, 1579.

    Appointments to vacancies in Manila cathedral.  Felipe II;
    [promulgated from?] Guadalupe, March 26, 1580.

    Letter to Felipe II.  Goncillo Ronquillo de Penalosa; July 17,
    1581.

    Ordinance restricting departure from the islands.  Goncalo
    Ronquillo de Penalosa; March 2, 1582.

    Letter to Felipe II.  Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa; June 15,
    1582.

Sources:  These documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo de Indias, Sevilla, except the royal decrees; these are taken from the original MS. documents in the “Cedulario Indico” of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid.

Translations:  The first and fourth documents are translated by Alfonso de Salvio; the second and third, by James A. Robertson; the last three, by Jose M. Asensio.

Royal Decree Regulating the Foundation of Monasteries

The King.

To our governor of the Filipinas islands: 

Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Dominican order, and bishop of the said islands, has reported to us that he is going to reside in these islands; and that he will take with him religious of his order to found monasteries, and to take charge of the conversion and instruction of the natives.  He has petitioned us to issue commands that whatever is done for the above order, as for those of St. Francis and St. Augustine, be done at our expense and that of the Spaniards and Indians (as has been done in other parts of our Indias), or as suits our pleasure, and as it receives the approval of our Council of the Indies.

Inasmuch as we have provided that monasteries be founded in Nueva Espana wherever it is necessary, and have ordered that, if the chosen places be villages belonging to the royal crown, the monasteries are to be founded at our expense—­the Indians of such villages contributing their labor in the work and erection of the buildings; and that, when the villages are in charge of encomenderos, the monasteries are to be founded at our expense and that of the encomenderos, as well as with the help of the Indians of such villages apportioned as encomiendas:  therefore it is our desire that the same orders be carried out in the founding of monasteries in those islands.  I order you immediately to ascertain in what districts and places of those islands monasteries are needed; after which you will take the necessary measures toward their erection, being careful that the houses be modest, and that they be not superfluously furnished.  If the villages where they are to be founded belong to our royal crown, you will give orders that they be erected at our expense, and that the Indians of such villages contribute their labor towards the work and building of them.  And if the villages are