[53] Probably referring to the plant called “China grass” (Boehmeria nivea), a shrub indigenous in India, and probably in China and other countries of eastern Asia; also introduced by cultivation into Europe and America.  The Chinese name for it is tchou-ma.  The well known “ramie” is but a variety (tenacissima) of Boehmeria nivea.  The fiber of China grass is considered as a textile substance of the first rank.  For description of this plant and its culture and use, see C.R.  Dodge’s Useful Fiber Plants of the World (U.S.  Department of Agriculture, Washington, 1897), pp. 85-91.

[54] This was the revolt of the Moors in Granada in the reign of Felipe II, which occurred in 1568-71, under the leadership of Aben Humeya.  It was due to an edict restricting the liberties of the Moors, and depriving them of the exercise of most of their distinctive customs.  It was quelled under the leadership of the famous Don Juan, and the Moon were expelled from their homes to other parts of Spain.

[55] This document, like so many existing in Spanish archives, was printed, evidently for the greater convenience of the members of the Council.  The signature is in writing, as also the above two endorsements, which are in different hands.

[56] Fabricio Serzale was born at Naples, April 2, 1568.  He was admitted into the Society, December 10, 1586, became a teacher of grammar, and went to the Philippines in June, 1600.  He was superior of Carigara; and his death occurred at Manila June 30, 1644.  See Sommervogel’s Bibliotheque.

[57] This paragraph is written in the margin of the original document that we follow.  The church here mentioned was that of the Dominicans.

[58] Father Fernando de Estrada, a native of Ecija, died at Manila in the year 1646, at the age of forty-five.  He was a missionary in Naujan of Mindoro, in Ternate, and among the Bisayans and Tagals. (Murillo Velarde’s Hist. de Philipinas, fol. 194.)

[59] This was Juan de Bueras, born in 1588; he arrived at Manila in 1622, and for four years was rector of the college there.  He was provincial from 1626 until 1636; and in 1644 he went to Mexico as visitor of that province.  See sketch of his life in Murillo Velarde’s Hist, de Philipinas, fol. 71, verso.

[60] Juan Lopez was born at Moratalla, in the diocese of Murcia, December 27, 1584.  Admitted into the Society October 11, 1600, he went six years later to the Philippines, where he was rector of Carigara, Manila, and Cavite, associate of the provincial, commissary of the Inquisition, and missionary among the Indians; he also went to Rome as procurator of his province.  He died at Manila, September 3, 1659.  A probable error in name makes Francisco Lopez rector of Cavite in 1637, for Juan was rector of the residence there at that time.  See Sommervogel’s Bibliotheque; and Murillo Velarde’s Hist. de Philipinas, fol. 269, verso.