As your Lordship was absent from this city, and many things presented themselves to me which were important to the service of God and of his Majesty, and needed remedy, it seemed to me that in order to provide for them it would be best for me to represent them to your Lordship in this letter; and I beg of you to see to them in order that they may be provided for and adjusted as may be most fitting and may best serve our Lord.

The preaching of the gospel is the matter in which we serve God most in these regions to which it came so late; and this is the first intention of his Holiness and of his Majesty, and it is the principal care which your Lordship and all of us who have come here must have.  Yet, although this is so, there is nothing which needs more to be provided for and set right than this, on account of the lack which there is of ministers, whether clergy or religious, to do this work.  For although his Majesty in his holy zeal has sent so many and continues to send them, there is need of a great many more, considering the many regions which we must reach.  So we must not only make all possible efforts to have a sufficient number of ministers come, but must try to find means to distribute in so wide a field the force that we have here, endeavoring with all equality to arrange and stretch the line as much as possible, that there may not be an over-abundance in some parts and a distinct lack in others; but rather we should act as one who has much to cover and but little cloth, who plies the shears with no little prudence, being watchful in marking his outline to see how it can reach here and there.  This may cause some inconvenience to the religious themselves, for it comes to this [illegible in MS.] since we have not the fulness and abundance that there is in Espana.  I have already asked this from your Lordship at other times, as being one who was under such obligations to set about it, as well for the good of the souls as for the temporal good of the king and of his encomenderos, by selecting and distributing ministers in order that thus religious instruction may be communicated and spread.  For this the following [illegible in MS.] plans occur to me, if they seem suitable to your Lordship.

The new settlement of La Hermita and Malate may be all one administration.  Paranaque and Cavite at least can be another; and, by establishing a house for religious at Cavite, Paranaque and the tingues ["hills”] may be administered by visit, and also the lowlands of Tuley and Limbo.  In this way there will remain three clergymen who can minister elsewhere, because [illegible in MS.] which is a great burden.  The Augustinian fathers are able to give enough instruction to [meet (?) _ — illegible in MS_.] their obligation; and they will accept it and take charge of it without any more alms being given them.  I would save up what is given there, in order to bestow it somewhere else; for there are so many places where there is need of it.  Moreover, two religious could be taken from Vatan, because there are four there, and two are sufficient, and there are not enough alms given for more.  Furthermore, Father Leon is a very good speaker; and the dean, as he wishes to advance him, can employ him in the ministry.