Your Majesty’s treasury is greatly embarrassed, as I have noted in the letter pertaining to the royal finances.  It occurs to me to declare here what may be done in this regard, should it appear best to your Majesty.  The Chinese who come here to trade every year bring eight hundred thousand pesos and sometimes more than a million.  During the ten days they spend here they gain more than a hundred per cent; and this year, according to the universal opinion, fully two hundred per cent.  They find plenty of money and sell as they would in their own land.  Each outgoing ship pays as anchorage five hundred pesos and the duties that are paid to your Majesty are only three per cent, as imposed by Don Juan Rronquillo.  If your Majesty would increase the duties by another three per cent, it would not hurt them to pay that amount, and your Majesty’s royal treasury would receive much relief thereby.  The goods brought by these heathen Chinese are silks of little cost and value, the scum of what they have; and they take back in return gold and silver.

I humbly beseech your Majesty in respect to this point, as to all my other suggestions, to accept so much as may be best for the royal service, which my zeal but desires to further.  May our Lord preserve your Majesty for many long years, as we your Majesty’s servants and vassals need.  Manila, June 19, 1598.

Don Francisco Tello

Sire: 

The report which by your royal instructions your Majesty commands me to send, as to the religious orders in these islands, the number of houses and religious that they contain, and the number needed—­whom may your Majesty order to be sent, so that there may be sufficient religious instruction in the islands—­will accompany this letter.  It is sent with the promptness commanded by your Majesty, whose Catholic and royal person may our Lord preserve, as is necessary to Christendom, and as we your vassals desire.  Manila, July 9, 1598.

Don Francisco Tello

[Endorsed:  “Manila.  To his Majesty, 1598.  Don Francisco Tello.  July 9.”]

[Instructions of the council:  “Have the superiors of the religious orders of Espana notified to send useful religious to the Philipinas.  Let the viceroy of Nueva Espana be directed by letter that he shall assemble the superiors of those religious orders, shall confer with them in regard to the annual selection and despatch of religious who are fitted to engage in this conversion, and shall direct them in the matter.  Let a letter be sent to the archbishop of Manila asking for definite information as to the houses there, how they are distributed, how many religious are in each one, and how many would be needed in order to provide the necessary instruction; and let him be directed to see that there is no lack, but that the conversion shall continue to increase.”]

Report of the religious orders in these Philippinas Islands, of their provinces and houses, and of the religious whom they have and those whom they need from Espana,in order that there may be sufficient religious instruction in the islands.