The King:  Most reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of Manila, and member of my Council:  A letter from you has been received and examined in my Council of the Yndias, from which has been learned your advice to the effect that when it is necessary to summon councils to discuss reforms in certain matters, the religious of the orders do not attend them as they should, availing themselves as they do of the privileges which they hold; and that some of them abandon the missions of Indians which they have already instructed and baptized, and dispose of and exchange the appurtenances and furniture of the churches where they administer the sacraments.  I thank you for the care and zeal for the service of our Lord with which you ascertained this, and have given me an account of it.  However, in so far as concerns the councils, measures will be taken to have his Holiness order a brief to be issued directing the said religious to attend the said councils when the prelates summon them.  As for the exchanges and sales of the properties of the churches which you say the teaching religious make, you will check these by the remedies of the law, excommunicating and punishing those who oppose you.  Accordingly I charge you to do this; and to be watchful for the preservation and instruction of the natives, so that what they need may be furnished to them everywhere, for this is the principal thing that should be looked to by all the ministers of the gospel.  Valladolid, on the thirtieth day of July in 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.:  “Reply to the archbishop of Manila in regard to stopping the bartering and sale of church furniture by the religious who give instruction.”]

GRANT TO THE JESUIT SEMINARY AT CEBU

Sire: 

I Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus, and procurator thereof for the Philipinas, affirm that the said Society, as a result of its desire that there may be in these islands persons who during their youth may engage in exercises of virtue, to the end that letters may flourish there, founded a residence [colegio] in the city of El Santissimo Nombre de Jesus eight years ago; [33] and that in it there are such religious as are needed for the purpose not only of teaching religion to the natives, but also of giving instruction in reading and writing to their children and to the Spanish children; and that also Latin is studied there—­from all of which great good has resulted to the natives, as well as to the Spaniards.  Since the country is very poor, and since the said residence has no income, it suffers from great need; and in order that the said residence may advance and may be able to carry on these laudable exercises in learning still further, and may include the study of other subjects of knowledge, I offer my petition to your Majesty that you will be pleased to bestow a gift of one thousand pesos of annual income for the support of the said religious who regularly reside therein for the said purpose, charged against the royal treasury of Mexico or against the proceeds of the saleable offices which are received there.