Item:  Inasmuch as that city is so far from your Highness’s eyes, and where journeys to and fro are made with so great difficulty, it is necessary for the good government of spiritual affairs, according to the customary method in Yndia, that, in case of the decease of the archbishop of Manila, his successor be appointed there; or that at least the senior bishop, or whoever your Highness may choose, shall govern the archbishopric.  For, the first time when the archbishopric was vacant, that city was seven years without a prelate; and the second time, three or four years.  In this matter, I must tell your Highness that you could avoid having so many bishops there—­especially those of Caceres and Nueva Segovia, who are in that same island of Manila; for they have no churches of importance, nor even any place wherein suitably to keep the most holy sacrament.  Neither do the bishops do more than to confirm, and for that a bishop in partibus [102] would be sufficient.  Considering that the royal treasury is poor and cannot attend to many other necessary things, it is very inadvisable to increase those expenses in other ways.  And considering the future—­for there might happen to be persons in those bishoprics who do not think of or profess the poverty and bareness now maintained by those who are there—­that would be a great burden on the Indian natives, and of no use.

Item:  That in the trade of the Filipinas with the kingdom of Japon, in exchange for the merchandise shipped there they carry silver to Manila; for Japon has quantities of silver, and many rich mines have been discovered.  The said silver is of the quality required by law, its fifth is taken, and the Japanese emperor’s duties are paid as they are here paid to your Highness.  Inasmuch as silver money is used in those kingdoms and districts only by weight—­and thus the citizens of Manila receive it, while the same is usual in Piru and Nueva Espana, wherever there are mines, in buying and selling with pieces of silver marked by weight instead of being coined; and inasmuch as this is very useful to the citizens of Manila, since, if this trade increases as it is increasing now, it will not be necessary to trade at all with the coined money of Nueva Espana:  therefore I petition your Highness to be pleased to allow the said silver to pass as it has always passed; and that table service and other articles may be made of it without new duties being demanded, since these are not due.

Item:  That during the war with the Sangleys, when they revolted, the Indian natives about Manila and La Laguna de Bay, and especially those of the province of La Pampanga, fought with great valor against the Sangleys, and aided us with great loyalty and willingness.  It was at a juncture when, had they joined the side of the enemies, the Filipinas would have been ruined.  Will your Highness be pleased to order the governor to thank them for it in your Highness’s name.