Consequently the number of souls of the natives ministered to in the said bishopric of Nueva Segovia is one hundred and twenty-eight thousand.

There are six secular benefices in the bishopric of Camarines, whose seat is in the city of Caceres.  They minister to ten thousand six hundred souls.

The Order of St. Francis has twenty-four convents, with guardianias and presidencies, in this bishopric, and minister to forty-five thousand souls.

All the souls ministered to in the said bishopric of Camarines amount to fifty-six thousand eight hundred.

These two churches of Caceres and Nueva Segovia (and the bishop of Zibu gives account of the church there to your Majesty) have no prebendaries; and there is no one besides the cura, who serves the said church and ministers to the few Spaniards there.

Each of the secular beneficiaries in these islands has an annual stipend of one hundred and ninety pesos, which are paid from your Majesty’s royal treasury to those who minister to your royal tributarios.  The same sum is paid to the religious, except that the ninety pesos are given in rice.  To both classes is given one arroba of Castilian wine, and flour for the mass.  The other encomenderos give the same to the ministers of their encomiendas.

Now then I have satisfied what your Majesty orders me by the aforesaid royal decree, as clearly as possible.  If I have not named the villages and chief places of the benefices, the reason is that I believe myself excused from that labor.

The government of Don Fernando de Silva, knight of the habit of Sanctiago, during this interim in these islands has been very successful; and he has proceeded as prudently as if he had exercised the government for many years.  He has secured peace both with the royal Audiencia and with all the other corporations.

He has occupied a port of the island of Hermosa—­the best or only good one—­which was so recommended and ordered to be occupied by his Majesty Phillippo Second, your Majesty’s grandfather, in the instructions ordered given to Governor Don Francisco Tello; of its importance, time will tell.  It has seemed a desirable thing, at least in the present, so that the Dutch shall not have the opportunity that they desire for taking the silk from China and transporting it to Europa and to Japon.  That brought them very great wealth; for, selling it for the bars of silver with which the latter kingdom abounds, the Dutch had money enough to continue the trade with China.  They shortened the voyage every year to that country.  Don Fernando de Silva also built a galleon that is now in the port of Cavite.  He built some small rooms or quarters of stone for the soldiers in the Plaza de Armas, wherein three hundred men may be lodged, without the expenditure of a single peso from your Majesty’s royal treasury.  He is a calm and prudent man, one of good example, fearful of God, and zealous for your Majesty’s service and the increase of your royal treasury.  He has abilities for governing, and if your Majesty occupies him in other governments, you will be as well served as you have been during the time while he has had this charge. [In the margin:  “That we are advised of what he says.”]