said religious every aid and protection, in order that they may go from India to Malaca, and from Malaca to Macan, and from Macan to whatever place their superiors may order.  Still another decree is needed, that the said religious or any others of our order may, provided that they have instructions to that effect from their superiors, freely build monasteries in remote and infidel lands—­without awaiting mandate, order, or permission from the viceroy or archbishop of India, or from other authorities.  This requirement is very inconvenient and a hindrance, inasmuch as in many of those places it is not possible to go for and return with the said permission within the space of a year—­during which time it may well happen that the opportunity would be lost, and with it the fruit which it might bear.

Another decree is also needful in order that the governor and the Audiencia of Manila, the bishop or any other person, may not cause hindrance or opposition to the provincial of our order by sending religious at will to countries of China or other infidel lands, as seems best to him for the service of God; for the instruction in the faith, which the religious have established in the islands, is sustained at their charge.

This our community begs and entreats from his Majesty, at this time; and for this purpose they have sent to these lands of Espana a native religious, named Fray Jhoan de Vascones, interpreter and minister of these districts.

Fray Jhoan de Vascones [19]

[Endorsed:  “The Augustinians of the Filipinas.  Council General of the Indias.”]

History of the Great Kingdom of China

Compiled by Father Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza.  Madrid:  Printed by Pedro Madrigal, in the year 1586.

Source:  A copy of the Madrigal edition of Mendoza’s Historia, in the Library of Congress.

Translation:  The translation is made (of such parts as relate to the Philippine Islands) by James A. Robertson.

History of the Great Kingdom of China

[Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza’s [20] Historia is divided into two parts—­the first part containing three books; the second two books, and an “Itinerary” of certain Franciscan priests, who made the circumnavigation of the globe.  Much of the matter for the Historia was gathered from Chinese books carried to Manila from China by Martin de Rada and his companions, the first Augustinians to go to China, and translated by them.  In addition, much information was obtained from the Augustinians and their lay companions, and from the Franciscans—­in especial from Father Martin Ignacio, one of those who composed the “Itinerary.”  The Philippine Islands are treated in portions of the second part, and in a portion of the “Itinerary;” this matter we reproduce in translation.