Don Pedro de Acuna
The licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado
The licentiate Tellez Almacan
The licentiate Andres de Alcaraz
The licentiate Manuel de Madrid y Luna

DECREES REGARDING RELIGIOUS ORDERS

Sire: 

The order of the Recollects of St. Augustine [32] desire to be established in the Indias, and have entreated your Majesty to order that permission be given therefor, and that several religious may go for that purpose, and to preach the gospel, to Nueva Espana, the Philippinas Islands, and China.  This request having been examined in the Council, it has appeared desirable that—­as this concerns the mendicant orders, so highly esteemed, pious and strict in religious observance, and as they can accomplish much good in those regions by their teaching, preaching, and example—­your Majesty, if such be your will, might give them permission to go to establish themselves in the Philippinas Islands, where there is most need of ministers of the gospel; and these religious are fitted for so new a country by the poverty and strictness which they profess.  Valladolid, February 23, 1604. [There are nine signatures, apparently those of councilors.]

[Endorsed:  “Council of the Indias, February 23, 1604.  That permission may be given to the Augustinian Recollects to go to establish themselves in the Philippinas.” In a different hand:  “Since this order wishes to send religious to the Indians, notify the superiors to take care that those who go be learned men, and of mature age.”]

The King:  Don Pedro de Acuna, governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there:  In my Council of the Indias has been examined the clause of a letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo of the church there, a copy of which accompanies this, wherein was recounted the transactions in relation to the taking posession by the religious of the Order of St. Augustine of a certain chapel of Nuestra Senora de Guia, which had been erected into a parish; and how the friars of the Order of St. Francis, on their own authority, and without any permission, had established another church in the village of Dilao; and the freedom with which the said fathers of St. Augustine acted, and the arrogance shown by them in not receiving a visitor of their order.  As these are matters that should be carefully looked after, I charge and command you neither to allow nor give opportunity for such irregularities, and to take measures to check and correct them, with the utmost discretion, and by the most expedient means possible, advising me of all that may occur.  Valladolid, on the third of June of the year one thousand six hundred and four.

I The King

Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council.

[Note at beginning of MS.:  “To the governor of the Philipinas, directing him to take effective measures to check and correct in future the high-handed proceedings of the Augustinian religious.  Corrected.”]