missions in their charge—­whether because of the promotion of him who serves it, or by his death, or for any other reason—­they shall nominate from among their religious those who shall appear most suitable for such mission, upon which their consciences are charged.  This nomination shall be presented before my viceroy, president, or governor (or to the person who shall exercise the superior government, in my name, of the province where such mission shall be located), so that from the three nominated he may select one.  This choice shall be sent to the archbishop or bishop of that diocese, so that the said archbishop or bishop may make the provision, collation, and canonical institution of such mission, in accordance with the choice and by virtue of such presentation.  In regard to the pretension made by the said provincials, namely, that if a religious be once approved for a mission, it must be understood that that approbation is to answer for all the other missions to which he may be appointed, I consider it advisable to declare—­as I declare and order by the present—­that the religious who shall have once been examined and approved by the bishop for a mission, remain examined and approved for all the other missions of the same language to which he shall be appointed afterward.  But if the mission for which his provincial shall present him be of a different language, he must be examined and approved anew in it; and, until he shall be examined and approved, he cannot serve in the mission.  I order my viceroys, presidents, and governors of each and every part of the said my Indias, on whom falls the execution of the said royal patronage; and I request and charge the very reverend and the reverend fathers in Christ, the archbishops and bishops of the Indias—­each one of them in what concerns him—­to observe and obey this my decree, and its contents, exactly and punctually, without permitting or allowing anything to be done contrary to or in violation of its contents, in any manner; and that they give notice to all the provincials of the said orders of this ordinance, so that they may observe it.  Given in Madrid, April six, one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine.

I the King

By order of the king our sovereign: 

Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras

Letter from Manila Dominicans to Felipe IV

Sire: 

Responding to our obligation, as religious of St. Dominic our father, and as vassals of your Majesty, to advise you of the condition of the lands of your seigniory, where we now reside in this country of the Philipinas and the city of Manila (where we are at present assembled in our provincial chapter and definitory), we say that this land is greatly afflicted because these seas are so infested with the Dutch.  The trade with neighboring nations, which was formerly rich and supported this country, has lost its power.  The result of the Dutch attacks is, that your vassals