also tell him that in the absence of tithes, I have endowed the archbishopric with an annuity of three thousand ducats, drawn from my royal exchequer, and each of the bishops with five hundred thousand maravedis [24] annually.  You will see to it that the bulls [25] on the whole matter be sent out with the utmost promptitude in order to reach the first fleet that sails.  From Madrid, on the seventeenth day of June, one thousand five hundred and ninety-five.

I The King

Letter from Antonio de Morga to Felipe II

Sire: 

On the tenth of this month of July [sic], I arrived at port in these Philipinas Islands with the fleet of your Majesty, and the reenforcements that were sent to this place by the viceroy Don Luis de Velasco, under my command.  I found the land at peace, and more free from suspicions of enemies than it has been hitherto.  There is great hope that if moderate diligence be shown, our Lord may be pleased to open the door to the preaching of the gospel among the heathen.  This is proved by the harvest gathered by the four descalced friars of the order of St. Francis, who went hence to Xapon last year.  I found Don Luis Dasmarinas governing this land, on account of the death of his father, as your Majesty will have been fully informed ere this.  I will serve according to your Majesty’s orders in the office of lieutenant-general of these islands with as much care as my strength will permit, until your Majesty may be pleased to order otherwise.  I humbly beseech your Majesty that the method of procedure that is to be followed here be sent to this kingdom with the utmost despatch.  May those who live here be granted reward, for they have served your Majesty with much care and fidelity; and if the land is not burdened with taxes, the maintenance and advancement of it are likely to bring about great improvements even in the neighboring kingdoms, to the service of God and of your Majesty.

I shall commence the residencia which your Majesty orders me to take in the case of Licentiate Pedro de Rojas, my predecessor, and of other ministers, as soon as these ships for Nueva Espana have sailed.  In order not to hinder their despatch, it has seemed best to postpone this work; but by the first ships I shall do as your Majesty bids me in this matter.

I was inaugurated into my office as soon as I arrived at this city, and concerning the inauguration I send the accompanying report to your Majesty.  As I have come so recently I give no report in detail as to what should be done in this region.  From what I have seen, however, it seems to me that I ought to remind your Majesty of what I wrote from Mexico.  Your Majesty’s treasury in these islands has been administered at a great loss to your Majesty’s exchequer, and it is very necessary for your Majesty to send someone to make investigations and set things in order for the future.  In that way your Majesty will be enabled to meet the expenses incurred, without providing therefor from Nueva Espana, as is done now.  Everything is greatly in arrears.  May our Lord preserve the royal person of your Majesty for many long years, as is needed by universal Christendom, and as we your Majesty’s servants desire.  Manila, June 25, 1595.