Within the city is the monastery of St. Augustine.  It is very large and has many dormitories, a refectory and kitchens.  They are now completing a church, which is one of the most sumptuous in those districts.  This convent has generally fifty religious. [176]

The monastery of St. Dominic is inside the walls.  It contains about forty religious.  It was built of stone, and was very well constructed.  It has a church, house, and all offices.  It has lately been rebuilt, and much better; for it was completely destroyed in the burning of the city in the year six hundred and three.

The monastery of St. Francis is farther on.  It is well constructed of stone, and its church is being rebuilt.  It contains about forty discalced religious.

The residence [colegio] of the Society of Jesus is established near the fortress of Nuestra Senora de Guia.  It contains twenty religious of their order, and is an excellent stone house and church.  There they study Latin, the arts, and cases of conscience.  Connected with them is a seminary and convictorio [177] for Spanish scholars, with their rector.  These students wear gowns of tawny-colored frieze with red facings. [178]

In another part of the city stands a handsome house, walled in, with its stone church, called San Andres and Santa Potenciana.  It is a royal foundation, and a rectoress lives there.  It has a revolving entrance and a parlor, and the rectoress has other confidential assistants; and there shelter is given to needy women and girls of the city, in the form of religious retirement.  Some of the girls leave the house to be married, while others remain there permanently.  It has its own house for work, and its choir.  His Majesty assists them with a portion of their maintenance; the rest is provided by their own industry and property.  They have their own steward and their priest, who administers the sacraments to them. [179]

In another part is the royal hospital for Spaniards, with its physician, apothecary, surgeons, managers, and servants.  It and its church are built of stone; and it has its sick rooms and the bed service.  In it all the Spaniards are treated.  It is usually quite full; it is under the royal patronage.  His Majesty provides the most necessary things for it.  Three discalced religious of St. Francis act there as superintendents, and they prove very advantageous for the corporal and spiritual relief of the sick.  It was burned in the conflagration of the former year six hundred and three, and is now being rebuilt.

There is another charitable hospital in charge of the Confraternity of that name.  It was founded in the city of Manila by the Confraternity of La Misericordia of Lisboa, and by the other confraternities of India. [180] It has apostolic bulls for works of charity, such as burying the dead, supporting the modest poor, marrying orphans, and relieving many necessities.  There the slaves of the city are treated, and lodgings are likewise provided for poor women.