Accordingly, as we have learned also through information from our beloved son, Francis Gonzaga, minister-general of the whole Order of Observance, that no prejudice will be occasioned to anyone by reason of this erection of the said custodia; nor will the fathers thereof under due regular observance, to their own great advantage, cease to render grateful service to the Lord—­wishing to decorate them with worthy favors ... nor indisposed to hearken to their plea, by our apostolic authority, and in virtue of these presents, we do erect and establish the aforesaid custodia of St. Gregory, hereafter to be called “the Province of the Discalced Friars of St. Gregory,” in the Philippine Islands, to be ruled and governed henceforth by a minister provincial.  He shall be chosen by the brethren of the province—­under obedience, however, to the minister-general of the whole order of the aforesaid Brethren of Observance, and to the commissary-general of the Indias, resident for the time being at the royal court.

Given at Rome at St. Peter’s, under the seal of the Fisherman, November 15, 1586, in the second year of our pontificate.

Documents of 1587-88

Letter to Felipe II.  Alvaro, Marques de [Villa] Manriquez; Mexico, February 8, 1587.

    Letter to Felipe II.  Santiago de Vera; Manila, June 26, 1587.

    Letter from the Audiencia to Felipe II.  Santiago de Vera,
    and others; Manila, June 25, 1588.

Source:  All these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.

Translations:  The first document is translated by Arthur B. Myrick, of Harvard University; the second, by James A. Robertson; the third, by Consuelo A. Davidson.

Letter from Marques Don Manriquez to Felipe II

Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: 

On the twenty-fourth of January I wrote to your Majesty a letter, which I send with this, in clause 6 of which I stated how very important it is for your Majesty’s service that trading in the Philipinas should be carried on through the hands of the merchants; that they should maintain ships, in order to relieve your Majesty from so great and heavy expense as you are under at the port of Acapulco; and that it was on this account that the galleon “Sant Martin Visto” had been sold at auction.  To show of what importance this is—­to begin with, it was sold for sixteen thousand pesos, which was the highest sum offered, and, in addition, what the repairs would cost which would be made at Acapulco after the arrival of the vessel, which came to two thousand pesos more.  If no one had been willing to give so much, I myself would have done so; for I am quite certain that this is to be the first step in setting this business on the sound basis which is desired.  As they continue to sell the other galleons and to build more, we must