I, Captain Pedro Alvarez, sargento-mayor of the government and department of war of these Philipinas Islands, at the command of Senor Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Lugo of the council of his Majesty, and his auditor in the royal Audiencia in these islands—­who, as the senior auditor, fills the office of president thereof—­have ordered to be drawn, and have drawn, this copy of the act and royal decree, the originals whereof remain in my possession; and this is certain and true, corrected and compared with the said original, to which I refer.  Witnesses at its correction and comparison were:  Captain Lopez de Olaiz, Sargento Pedro Delgado, and Martin de la Rroca, citizens and residents of this city of Manila, where this is dated, on the fifth day of the month of August of the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-four.

Pedro Alvarez

[Endorsed:  “Copy of the act and royal decree which were published revoking the grant which was made to the seminary [and] college for Japanese, of a monopoly of buyo, bonga, and tobacco, and the passage to the fort of Cavite.”]

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOP TO FELIPE IV

10.  The chief argument that induced his Majesty Philippo Second, our sovereign, to reestablish in these islands, during the term of Don Francisco Tello’s government, the royal Audiencia which he had suppressed some years before, was in order that the governors might not be so absolute in regions so remote and so far separated from his royal presence, but that there might be a superior arm to restrain them, without allowing extortions on the innocent.  That is a most pious act, and one experienced by all this community during the time of that sovereignty and superintendency in all things pertaining to justice, government, and war.  If your Majesty be pleased to have it restored and reestablished with the majesty and power with which it was founded, it will be of great service to God and your Majesty, and the consolation and relief of your vassals.  For it is certain that three or four men view a cause which does not concern them with more impartial eyes than does one man who is sole and absolute, who is at times governed by passion, and consequently blind in what he orders executed.  Although it be said that demands for justice may be made in the residencia—­as if the poor man who suffers in person, property, honor, and at times in his life, would appear at the residencia; and, even if he were alive, could go to obtain satisfaction at that court [i.e., of Mexico], or have method or means to do so, even though his grievances were enormous and cried out to the heavens—­well do I know that there are testimonies in that royal Council (since they have been sent from here) that say the contrary.  But I equally affirm this to be the truth, as, to my positive knowledge, it actually occurs—­more true than I would indeed wish, for it would be well if these things did not happen.