In the matter of the assessments and contributions which you say the Indians pay, and the annoyances which they suffer on this account from the religious who are instructing them, you speak in general terms of all the orders in those islands; whereas it would have been best to write to me particularly as to which orders have thus transgressed, and to send the investigations that have been made.  And, since the protection and guardianship of the Indians is in your charge, you should attend to them, in so far as lies in your department, so that they may not receive any injury or grievance.  You should always carry out the provisions and ordinances in their favor, proceeding with the religious by discreet and legal measures, and advising with the Audiencia.  You will strive to deal prudently with the archbishop of that city, maintaining amicable relations with him, so that from the government of both may follow the good results that are desirable; for any lack of harmony between those who govern must always result in evil, besides the general scandal and the bad example that is furnished.  The same is being written to the archbishop, and he is ordered to avoid the exercise of censures in the cases that you describe in your letter, since it is not proceeding against the religious to give me information concerning occurrences.  You are informed of this, that you may understand the matter.  As for what you say regarding the entrance of the said archbishop in his pall, in spite of the decree sent him which directs the contrary, I have written to him that he should not have done this, but should have complied with the decree, and observed the custom in these kingdoms; of this, too, you are informed so that, being aware of it, you may take care that the said decree is complied with as I command you to do.  As to the other matters contained in your letters, decisions will soon be reached, and the result will be written to you soon.  Pardo, December 2, 1613.

I The King

Countersigned by: 
Juan Ruiz de Contreras
Signed by the members of the Council.

DOCUMENTS OF 1616

Recommendations regarding the archbishopric of Manila. [Council of the Indias?]; 1613-16.  Letter to Felipe III.  Valerio de Ledesma, S.J.; August 20.  Portuguese and Spanish expedition against the Dutch, 1615.  Juan de Rivera and Valerio de Ledesma, S.J.; [1616?].

Sources:  The first document is obtained from the original MS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.  The second, and the first part of the third, are found in the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), i, pp. 403-429; the remainder of the third, in Colin’s Labor evangelica (Madrid, 1663,) pp. 802-810.

Translations:  The first document is translated by Robert W. Haight; the remainder, by James A. Robertson.

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ARCHBISHOPRIC OF MANILA