observing faithfully in all things the spirit of uprightness and Christian moderation—­which is justice, charity, and freedom for the innocent, according to the saints, particularly St. Augustine and St. Thomas, and other doctors of the church—­seeking the common weal.  Since the cause for just war is the injury received, war against them would be unjust, if they are innocent of the charges against them.  This is my opinion, in view of the aforesaid report, in the absence of better judgment.  Issued from this convent of San Francisco at Manila, January twentieth, 1592.

Fray Pedro Baptista [33]

Letter of Congratulation

To the Bishop, Clergy, and People of the Philippines

Venerable brother and beloved son, health and apostolic blessing.

The lofty works of divine power, that in the earthly realm take place not by human but by heavenly means, very often are wont to display themselves from the very outset; while matters that through divine wisdom as leader and mistress tend to a spiritual end, the health that is of our souls, in the meanwhile lie unrecognized, or, if unveiled, seem of such trivial import as not to be viewed in their grandeur even by the keenest of minds, until aroused thereto chiefly by the splendor of their results.  This, as oftentimes before, has happened now at this very time in the conversion to gospel truth of the New World, of both the Indias, and especially of the Philippine Islands.  Wherefore we are uplifted in great wonder at the most bountiful results wrought therein secretly by divine wisdom, from the first discovery of those countries.  Previously we had learned of this, in truth, from the letters of many persons and from report; now however, that the divine goodness has raised our insignificance to the summit of apostolic dignity, we have heard it also from the ambassador, our beloved son Alphonsus Sanchez, a professed priest of the Society of Jesus—­sent in your name first to Sixtus V, pope, of happy memory; then to the following Roman pontiffs, our predecessors; and lately to us—­from whom, in private conversations which we frequently have held with him, we have learned more in detail ...  From conversation, too, with the same Alphonsus we have learned of your purposes and deeds in the foundation of churches, the spread of divine worship, the training of natives, the establishment of schools, the practice of useful arts, the appointment of magistrates, the defense of missionaries, the protection of new converts, and, in fine, the permanence of those commonwealths—­which as so many members and parts thereof you have brought about through the union of the New World with the Old.

Now, however, in order that you may have some recompense for your love and good-will toward us, and enjoy some reward for your endeavors and toils, by the authority of almighty God and of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own, in virtue of these presents, we take you all and singular and all that you have, into our trust and protection, and that of the apostolic see; and we send you through the same Alphonsus our apostolic blessing....