The archbishop of Manila writes to the king (July 25, 1626) about various ecclesiastical matters.  He enumerates the salaries of the archbishop and his prebendaries, and asks that these be increased.  The cathedral’s income is very inadequate, and needs aid.  Serrano enumerates the number of secular benefices in his diocese, and the number of convents and priests belonging to the respective orders, with the number of souls under their spiritual charge.  The same enumeration is made for the suffragan dioceses under his care.  The archbishop then commends the government (ad interim) and procedure of Fernando de Silva, recounting various acts of the latter which are beneficial to the colony.  The new proprietary governor, Juan Nino de Tavora, has arrived at Manila.  The Dutch have not made their usual raids on the islands, and trade with China, India, and other nations has consequently been more flourishing, during the past year.  Moro pirates have, however, inflicted considerable damage; and one of their fleets even assaulted Serrano and his company while on an official visitation—­the latter barely saving their lives by flight.  Serrano commends the auditor Messa y Lugo, and asks for promotion for him.  Dominican religious have established a mission on the island of Hermosa, where a Spanish post was recently formed.

Fernando de Silva makes a final report to the king (July 31, 1626) of his government, up to the arrival of his successor, Juan Nino de Tavora.  Affairs in both the Moluccas and the Philippines are in a quiet and safe condition; the royal magazines are well supplied, and the forts equipped with artillery.  Silva has lessened the burdens imposed on the natives, and quieted the revolt in Cagayan; and he has punished the savage tribes who harassed the peaceful Indians.  Barracks for the troops, and a stone bridge over the Pasig, are improvements made at Manila.  The Spaniards are excluded from trade in Japan; and the Dutch have built a fort on the island of Formosa.  Silva sends an expedition to that island, and establishes a Spanish post at its northern end.  He explains the advantage of this in restoring to Manila the Chinese trade, which has been injured by both the Dutch and the Portuguese; it will also be a point of vantage for the Japanese trade.  Silva concludes by expressing his personal opinion of the characters of the respective auditors, and renewing his request that his wife may enjoy possession of her encomiendas in the islands, without residence there.

In 1620 the order of Poor Clares had been established in the Philippines; and, six years later, they write a letter to the king (July 31, 1626) asking that they be not restricted in the number of women whom they may receive into their order.  A seminary for orphan Spanish boys was opened, at nearly the same time, at Manila; its founder asks the king, in letters of 1626, to assist his enterprise with money and other aid; in accordance with this request, the government assigns an income to the school.  A royal decree of June 19 in that year orders that the religious (especially the Augustinians) in the islands shall cease to commit lawless acts in contravention of the civil authorities.  Another of the same date commands that municipal court sessions be not hindered by treasury auction sales.  A third (dated October 16) orders Tavora to see that the hospitals in Manila be suitably aided and conducted.