[38] Miguel de Benavides was born about 1550, and came to the Philippines as one of the first Dominican missionaries (1587).  Soon after his return from China, he sailed (1591) for Spain, where he acted as procurator of his province.  Early in 1598, he returned to the Philippines as bishop of Nueva Segovia; but the archbishop Santibanez dying in that same year (Aug. 14), he was succeeded by Benavides.  Under his administration was begun the college of Santo Tomas at Manila.  He died there July 26, 1605.

[39] Regarding the numbers of Chinese residents at Manila, see Salazar’s own statement in his account of the Parian (p. 230 ante.)

[40] The English pirate Candish, who plundered the “Santa Ana.”

[41] Fuerca:  as here used, indicates violence to law, done by ecclesiastical judges; see note 46, in Vol.  V, p. 292.

[42] Reference is here made to the archbishop of Mexico, who had ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Philippines until the archbishopric was created there.  At the time when Salazar’s letter was written, the see of Mexico had no incumbent, the diocese being governed by the dean and chapter.

[43] The MS. from which this document was translated is evidently a copy of a decree prepared in answer to the request of the citizens of the Philippines (see the “Memorial” of the general junta, in Vol.  VI, p. 166 ff.).

[44] On the back, this document is signed by members of the royal Council of the Indias.

[45] This statement by the bishop, and the twenty-five “conclusions” which follow it are, in the original document from which we copy, misplaced in order of time; we therefore restore them to their proper place, as indicated by their respective dates.

[46] Apparently a metaphorical use of the word, a religious double entendre.

[47] The original MS. is in places torn or illegible; and matter enclosed in brackets, with the translator’s initial, gives his conjectural readings of lacunae.