The religious orders are at peace, and are attending to the welfare of the natives and your Majesty’s service.  Three of them held chapter-meetings this year, and all quietly.  That of St. Francis, and that of the Augustinian Recollects were exemplary, and they made their elections immediately.  The calced Augustinians also made their elections—­but not so quickly that we could avoid sending to them to remind them not to allow the disturbances of other times to occur in their chapter—­by having made them beforehand through their devotion to the outgoing provincial, who managed the succession for another as worthy as he. [90] May God grant that the elections be canonical.

A procurator is sent to ask your Majesty for more religious.  On other occasions, your Majesty has been informed of the existing need for exemplary religious who may assist in the reformation of the province.  As for him who is not so, it were better that he do not come.  I cannot hide these things, nor hesitate to tell the truth about them when opportunity offers.  For that reason I am not liked; and I have heard that reports against me have gone to that court from several of the orders.  I am very sure that your Majesty will not give them ear without reserving another ear for me.  The religious in this country wish to govern; and, if the governor does not allow them to do so, they regard him as an evil-conditioned man, and easily lend ear to the malcontents.  May God preserve the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom.  Manila, July 8, 1632.  Sire, your Majesty’s humble vassal,

Don Juan Nino de Tavora

EVENTS IN FILIPINAS, 1630-32

Relation of what has occurred in the Filipinas Islands and other regions adjacent, from July, 1630, to July, 1632.

Great has been the peace which we have enjoyed in these Philipinas Islands for the last two years; for the forces of the Dutch have been scanty, owing to the failure of reenforcements; from Holland, and hence there has been peace in the Malucas Islands as well.  Nevertheless, there have not been wanting here some disturbances from domestic enemies.  The Indians of the province of Caraga, which is in one of these Philipinas Islands, rebelled and killed the Spaniards and the religious, their ministers (although not for any cause connected with the faith); these are discalced Augustinian friars.  This uprising gave us anxiety enough, as it seemed to be the beginning of a universal mutiny; and it was particularly disturbing to us, as all our missions are in the neighborhood of the said province of Caraga, which is gradually being subdued and the leaders of the mutiny punished.