this matter, on petition of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council.  I humbly petition your Majesty to be pleased to consider that this city is a general place of concourse for all the nations of the world; that it seems a necessary obligation that—­since it is impossible to celebrate the divine offices in the other churches of Manila with due propriety, because of their great poverty—­at least these peoples may see that it will be done in the cathedral, the metropolitan of all the others; since we do not act as we ought toward so great a Lord, yet as we can, and with more propriety than in other regions. [Marginal note:  “Have a copy of this section sent to the governor and Audiencia, and let them assist in a matter so necessary.  They shall plan how this may be done with due propriety, and shall advise us of their action.  Have a letter sent to the archbishop, enclosing a copy of what is written to them, so that he may understand it.”]

The cabildo of this holy church at present, through the goodness of God and your Majesty’s care in filling the prebends with such persons, consists of excellent persons.  If the reason advanced to your Majesty, by means of which a special brief was obtained from his Holiness for the senior bishop to govern this church—­[which has been done] through three vacancies in the see—­had any justification at that time, surely, Sire, that justification has now ceased, as the cabildo is now filled by entirely satisfactory men.  Hence your Majesty can certainly be served by not having this government leave the cabildo in the two vacancies that will follow hereafter; for, in truth, during the few days while they governed in the last vacant see, before the arrival of the senior bishop from his bishopric, they so disposed affairs that the said bishop simply retained what they had decided, and did not change anything that he found established. [Marginal note:  “Observe the custom.”]

Great annoyances result because the governor does not communicate with the archbishop as to the persons whom he presents for the dignidades and prebends of this church, who are appointed until your Majesty shall fill the places.  For if it proves that the person is incapable or unworthy—­either because of any secret reason known to the archbishop, or for any suit that he has pending or for any other reason—­the remedy is more easy in its beginning, by first conferring together about the case.  Your Majesty seems to have so ordered, as appears from the presentations made by Governors Don Pedro de Acuna and Don Juan de Silba, which read as follows:  “Having communicated with the archbishop, and having observed the order and decree of his Majesty, I present So-and-so,” etc.  There it appears that your Majesty has ordered in this matter that consultation be held thereon.  It would be well to order this again; for the governor says that he has not seen such a decree, nor do I find it in the book of decrees. [Marginal note:  “Have this decree found and brought.  Let them observe the decrees regarding this.  Let the governor report on what the archbishop asks.”]