A royal decree (December 31, 1622) orders the Dominicans in the Philippines not to meddle in affairs of government.  Another of the same date confirms and enforces a previous decree (1603) of Felipe ii, ordering that all religious who are missionaries to the Indians be examined as to their competency for such work, especially in their knowledge of the native language, by the archbishop or some person appointed by him.  A letter from the king (October 9, 1623) directs Fajardo to push the exploration of the Igorrote mining region, and to send nutmeg from the islands to Nueva Espana.  Various matters mentioned by the governor receive perfunctory and formal answers.  On November 27 following, Felipe iv confirms the permission given by the governor and archbishop to the Dominicans to found a college at Manila.

At the close of the year 1623, an expedition is sent to explore and pacify the province of the Igorrotes (in northern Luzon), already famous for its rich gold mines.  The report of this enterprise, furnished (June 5, 1624) by its leader, Alonso Martin Quirante, narrates its progress from day to day, the plan of the campaign, the encounters between the Spaniards and the Igorrotes, and the success of the former in repulsing the attacks of the natives and obtaining ore from the mines.  Martin describes the country through which he passes; the native tribes, their customs, and their methods of obtaining gold; the mines, and the ore secured from them.  He considers the general idea of the richness of these mines incorrect and exaggerated; he examines them, however, carefully, and obtains specimens of the ore from each.  Then follows a report of the various tests and assays made thereon, from which the results are not very satisfactory; a table showing the values of the metal obtained in each of the assays; and the action of the Audiencia of Manila thereon—­they deciding to abandon further attempts to explore or work the Igorrote mines, and to send to Nueva Espana for further test the ores brought by Martin to Manila; moreover, the men now at the mines are to be sent to Nueva Segovia, to subdue the revolted Indians there.

The Editors September, 1904.

DOCUMENTS OF 1621

        News from the province of Filipinas.  Alonso Roman; [July?]. 
        Death of Dona Catalina Zambrano. [Unsigned]; July. 
        Letter to the king.  Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; July 21. 
        Letter from the archbishop of Manila to the king.  Miguel
        Garcia Serrano, O.S.A., July 30. 
        Letter to the king.  Geronimo de Silva; August 1. 
        Affairs in the Franciscan province.  Pedro de Sant Pablo,
        O.S.F., and others; 1620-21. 
        Letter to the king.  Alonso Fajardo de Tenca; December 10.

Sources:  The first of these documents is obtained from a Ms. in the Real Academia de Historia, Madrid; the second, from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer Library), i, pp. 509-514; the remainder, from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.