archbishopric (which began to be reckoned from the date of the brief), the cabildo should not govern, but the senior bishop of the islands (who is at present the bishop of Zibu); for it was considered unadvisable for the government to be entrusted to the cabildo for the space of three years—­the least time that a vacancy can last here.  Upon this occasion the cabildo responded that it could not give to the archbishop-elect the government that it did not possess.  The bishop of Zibu says that he cannot leave the government without a special order from your Majesty and from his Holiness, who are the persons who have given it to him.  After receiving this reply, the archbishop-elect came on appeal from fuerza to the Audiencia.  They, after having thoroughly aired the matter, judged that there was no occasion [for this plea], because the documents lacked some clauses requisite to make them effective, and the cabildo had not committed fuerza.  They told the archbishop to prefer his claims before him who had the right [to judge his case].  The good archbishop was desirous of governing, and accordingly, took hold of the affair with too much energy, aided by his natural disposition, which is not so moderate as his dignity demands.  He thinks that we are all to blame, and I in particular; accordingly, he shows me little favor.  I mention this so that in case that he should write anything against me, your Majesty may be warned, and give no credit to his relation until the proof of it be adduced.

The decree in which your Majesty lays down the order that must be observed in the changing of missions and in the appointment of the ministers thereof on account of the death of their predecessors, was obeyed, and notice of it given to the bishops and to the superiors of the orders.  The latter oppose it stoutly, and say that in no event can they be ruled by it without the order of their generals, and that they will abandon their missions first.  In the year of 29 I wrote to your Majesty at length upon this matter, in regard to which no particular answer was given to me besides the sending of this decree—­which, as I judge, is general for all the Yndias.  The point is very serious, and is one of peculiar difficulty in these islands.  Although we here are sufficiently ministers of your Majesty to be able to decide it in case that the religious leave their missions, yet we desire to have some clearer light on the matter from there, in order that we may better succeed in your Majesty’s service. [In the margin:  “File it with, the letter of the bishop of Zibu, who writes concerning this matter, which is submitted to the fiscal.”]

For many years the bishopric of Camarines has had no prelate; for, although your Majesty has appointed many, no one comes here.  That must be because they hear how wretched a post it is.  Your Majesty could abolish that bishopric by adding the half of it to that of Cebu, which is very conveniently located for this purpose, and the other half to this archbishopric of Manila, which does not have too great a district; and by that means would save that salary, and avoid many animosities that he who shall arrive from Espana to occupy that bishopric must surely encounter. [In the margin:  “To be considered by all the Council, together with what the viceroy wrote.”  “A bishop has already gone to Camarines.”]