DOCUMENTS OF 1610

    Petition of the Recollects.  Dionisio de la Anunciacion, and others;
    June 30. 
    Dominicans request suppression of the Audiencia.  Baltasar Fort,
    O.P., and others; June 30. 
    Relation of 1609-10.  Gregorio Lopez, S.J.; July 1. 
    Letter to Felipe III.  Juan de Silva; September 5. 
    Letter to Silva.  Felipe III; December 7.

Sources:  All these documents save one are obtained from the original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.  The third is found in the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), i, pp. 273-340.

Translations:  The first three documents are translated by James A. Robertson; the fourth and fifth, by Robert W. Haight.

PETITION OF THE RECOLLECTS

Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty: 

In conformity with certain requirements of the visitor of the Augustinian order in these islands, we, the Recollect religious of the same order, have all rendered obedience to the father in their rule of life in this country.  We are obeying very exactly the orders that you, Sire, have given, although we have received signal annoyance thereby, as we think they will prove in every way a great hindrance to our mode of life and its tranquillity.  Especially do we believe—­and it is beyond doubt true—­that if we are forced to continue the same obedience, it will mean not only a cessation of the forward movement of this special work, but the extinction of us all therein; for we have in no way been guilty of any fault whereby we have merited such a penalty, as this action, under this form, must be considered.  This will be shown by the evidence, for some of us religious, who came to these so remote regions from that country [Spain] by order of your Highness, have died; and although others have taken the habit, this is not a country where the orders can be preserved by that method alone, without the reenforcement of those who can come from those kingdoms to help in this work.  If we are kept subject to the rule, we shall lose this refuge, and we are on the direct road to ruin without attaining that fruit through special desire of which we felt ourselves forced to leave our native land and the association of our brother religious in our so prompt response to the order of your Highness.  Since our mode of living has been, and is, regulated by the care that we owe to our obligations, and is an example and to the edification of the town—­and this it public and well-known—­to say nothing of our established rules and rigor; since this city and kingdom hold us in pious and especial affection; and since, in the service of your Highness we are laboring for the conversion and administration of a mission-field in a toilsome post, and one without any temporal consolation, and through not having the proper number of religious for another mission (namely, three) we left the latter,