There is some more money which the royal officials have not collected from me, which I owed, although they were informed of it by the bulls.  They failed to collect from me other money—­that which was lent me in Espana in the House of Trade at Sevilla, for my aid and outfit.  I say that concerning this I am writing to the Council, asking them to remit me this debt, as it is certainly necessary.  If those lords should consent to have this favor done me, well and good; if not, patience.

Although I have equal liking and respect for all the Council, as for Senor the licentiate Molina de Medrano, he best knows my heart and my soul, as he has had closer association with me.  Although I am writing to his Grace, yet I do not know whether that letter will be so long; and accordingly I beg your Grace to communicate this to him.  To Senora Dona Catalina, and to Senors Don Francisco and Don Christoval, and to Dona Magdalena, and to that other angelic child whose name I do not recall:  may God keep them in life, and grant health to your Grace, as I, the affectionate chaplain of all your household, desire.  Afulu, May 22, 1599.

Fray Miguel, Bishop of Nueba Segobia.

That letter I wrote to the Council, but it was blotted; and accordingly I send a copy of it, and send that to your Grace, so that you may show this if perchance the other one should be lost.

[Endorsed:  “To Joan de Ibarra, knight of the habit of Calatrava, of the royal Council of the Indias, and secretary of the king our lord for the Indias.”]

Missions of the Religious Orders

I, Geronimo de Alcaras, secretary of the chapter of this holy metropolitan church of Manila, and notary-public of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, give witness and true testimony that, by the books wherein are recorded the decrees and other matters having to do with the government thereof, which are issued in this archbishopric, and which books are in my possession, it appears that on the twenty-first of August of the past year one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven, Don Fray Domingo de Salasar, who was the first bishop of these islands, gave permission and license to the religious of the Order of St. Dominic to found a church and convent in this said city of Manila.  Likewise on the twenty-ninth of August of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety, the said bishop gave the said permission to the religious of the Order of St. Augustine to establish missions in the tingues of Pas, the encomienda of Tome de la Ysla. [24] On the same day he also gave permission for the villages of Araya and Pinpin, of the jurisdiction of Candava.  Likewise on the third day of the month of February of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-five, Fray Christoval de Salvatierra, then director of this archbishopric, gave the said permission to the religious of the Order of St. Francis to establish a mission in the tingues of Cavite, on