The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIII, 1629-30 | Page 6

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 defínitory), 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 here have no sea forces, and but few for land; and those are
widely scattered in various presidios of little importance, that serve no
good purpose and cause very great expense to your royal treasury. At
those presidios the soldiers die in great numbers from the unhealthful
climate, insufficient and poor food, and their own inactivity and vicious
lives. We believe that a small fleet for the sea could be maintained at a
much smaller cost; that will sweep it of enemies, will keep the soldiers
contented and in sufficient numbers (and if they are killed, it will be
while performing their duty, and not for the above reasons); trade
would return to its former condition, and all the injuries that daily
befall this wretched country would cease.
Concerning the condition of our holy order, your officials will tell your
Majesty, for they ought to inform you of everything that happens here.
And although they are, as a rule, not very friendly to us, because our
order is a friend to truth, we leave information of our affairs to be given
through their statements. The report of our poverty will be given to
your Majesty by our religious procurator of the province, who is at that
court. We beseech your Majesty to hear, believe, and protect him, and
despatch his affairs. The royal officials of Mexico, on account of the
expense of these islands, which is made up from the treasury under
their charge, send annually to our order, at the cost of your royal
revenues, flour for the host, and two arrobas of wine for each priest,
with orders that one and one-half arrobas are to be given here to each
one, because of the waste on the voyage. Since we do not even see any

dust from the flour, nor more than one arroba of the wine, in order to
celebrate mass for a whole year, on account of which mass cannot be
said, even on days of obligation, it is sufficient to propose it in this way,
in order that we may expect the remedy as sure to follow from your
Majesty, whose royal person may our Lord preserve for many years, as
we all your vassals find necessary. From the city of Manila in the
Filipinas Islands, May twelve, one thousand six hundred and
twenty-nine. Your Majesty's servants and chaplains,
Fray Diego Duarte, definitor. Fray Joan Luis de Gueti, definitor. Fray
Gaspar Cassablanca, definitor. Fray Pedro Martin de Lucenilla,
definitor.
[A copy of the last portion of the above letter regarding the flour and
wine sent from Mexico follows, and is commented upon thus: "Decree
of the Council. Referred to the fiscal, November 8, 1630." "The fiscal
says that what is requested by this portion of the letter appears very just
and advisable; and it will be right and expedient to give strict orders to
the governor of Philipinas to be very careful to relieve these necessities,
and not to allow them to be again represented to the Council. Madrid,
February 8, 1631."]

Letters to Felipe IV from Governor Tavora

Treasury Matters
Sire:
The officials of the royal treasury will give