Let this suffice concerning that mission, and at the same time conclude my narrative, since I have now related the most notable events, and those which seemed most important and edifying, up to my departure from those islands—­which, as I said in the beginning, was in the month of July of the year one thousand six hundred and two. [30] I trust that the progress of events from that time until the present, a period of almost two years, may give no less satisfaction and consolation, and that of the future even more; and I hope that it will have a more able chronicler; indeed, any one in the Society can do it better than I. It is enough for me that I have tried to render some service to the Society by this humble work, which although a small one, has cost me much effort.  This, and that other and greater task of undertaking so many and so long voyages (made not for my own pleasure, but in response to the claims of obedience), I think deserve the reward which I desire and claim for them, which is nothing else than the object to which those labors were dedicated—­the increase and extension of the holy Catholic faith in those so remote islands, by the conversion of so many souls who are so ready to receive it.  May your Paternity and all those who are able to come to their aid take pity upon them, so that ministers of the gospel may distribute to them the bread of heaven, for the hunger from which they are dying.  It is a sorrowful thing, more sorrowful than can be told, to see them die without relief.  At Roma, March 5, 1604.

Father Chirino, of the Society of Jesus.

DOCUMENTS OF 1604

Letters to Felipe III.  Pedro de Acuna; July 15 and 19.  Decrees regarding religious orders.  Felipe III, and others; February-July.  Grant to the Jesuit seminary at Cebu.  Pedro Chirino; [undated; 1604?].  Decree regulating commerce with Nueva Espana.  Felipe III; December 31.

Source:  All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.

Translations:  These are made by Robert W. Haight—­excepting the third, which is by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin.

LETTERS TO FELIPE III FROM PEDRO DE ACUNA

On the Sangleys

Sire: 

The two ships which came this year from Nueva Hespana arrived in sight of these islands on the tenth of last month, and the captain made the port of Cavite on St. John’s day.  The Almiranta, not being so good a ship, could not follow him, and remained on the shoal of Mindoro until the fifth of the present month, which caused great loss.  The viceroy of Nueva Hespana writes me that the cause of these ships leaving Acapulco so late was because they had met this despatch and that of the Conde de Monterey for Peru, and that for the coming year he will see to it that it is earlier.  This is necessary, for