is therefore written by my own hand and in my own composition, and in the style of an Indian not well versed in the Spanish language.  But I confide my cause to your royal Majesty’s great kindness, and, prostrate at your Majesty’s royal feet, implore you to protect me with your royal protection, by ordering the royal Audiencia and the archbishop to inform your royal Majesty anew, and to summon me in order that I may inform them of my claims to justice.  Also in the meanwhile will you order the fathers not to molest me in the ancient possession that I have inherited from my fathers and grandfathers, who were chiefs of the said village.  I trust in the royal clemency and exceedingly great Christian spirit of your Majesty that I shall be protected and defended in what should have justice.  This I petition from your royal person, whom may our Lord preserve during many happy years, for the protection of these poor Indians, your Majesty’s loyal vassals, and for the increase of this new Christian community.  From Quiapo; July 25, 1609.

The useless slave of your royal Majesty,

Don Miguel Banal

[Endorsed:  “Have the governor and the Audiencia investigate, and in the meanwhile provide suitable measures.”]

Despatch of Missionaries to the Philippines

Information by father Fray Diego Aduarte, concerning the journey that he made in the year 1605 from Spana to the Philipinas, with 38 religious of his order; and, further, that made by father Fray Gabriel de San Antonio in the year 1008; and, further, what is necessary that there should not be failures in such journeys.

By command of Senor Don Luis de Belasco, viceroy of this country of Nueva Spana, in compliance with a clause of a letter from his Majesty—­whereby he was commanded to advise his Majesty of the religious who, going under his orders to the Philipinas, have remained here, and what was the occasion of it; and in particular of those who remained of my company, two years ago—­I, Diego Aduarte, declare as follows, having come as his vicar; and I call God to witness that in all I tell the truth.

In the month of July of 1605 I sailed from Spana, with thirty-eight religious of my order, whom I was empowered by his Majesty’s decrees to convey thither; and none were lacking.  Among these there were only four lay brethren; and of the rest, who were priests (they being the majority), all except one were preachers and confessors; and those who were not such had studied sufficiently to be ordained as priests for mass—­as all of them now are, and actual ministers, who preach and hear confessions in various languages which they have learned, much to the service of God and the increase of His church.  I arrived in this country of Nueva Spana with all the said thirty-eight religious, where two of my priests died.  One of them was named Fray Dionisio de Rueda, who had come from Valencia, of which he was