Sire:
The order of the Recollects of St. Augustine [32] desire to be
established in the Indias, and have entreated your Majesty to order
that permission be given therefor, and that several religious may
go for that purpose, and to preach the gospel, to Nueva España, the
Philippinas Islands, and China. This request having been examined
in the Council, it has appeared desirable that--as this concerns the
mendicant orders, so highly esteemed, pious and strict in religious
observance, and as they can accomplish much good in those regions
by their teaching, preaching, and example--your Majesty, if such be
your will, might give them permission to go to establish themselves
in the Philippinas Islands, where there is most need of ministers of
the gospel; and these religious are fitted for so new a country by the
poverty and strictness which they profess. Valladolid, February 23,
1604. [There are nine signatures, apparently those of councilors.]
[_Endorsed_: "Council of the Indias, February 23, 1604. That
permission may be given to the Augustinian Recollects to go to
establish themselves in the Philippinas." _In a different hand_:
"Since this order wishes to send religious to the Indians, notify
the superiors to take care that those who go be learned men, and of
mature age."]
The King: Don Pedro de Acuña, governor and captain-general of the
Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there: In
my Council of the Indias has been examined the clause of a letter
from the ecclesiastical cabildo of the church there, a copy of
which accompanies this, wherein was recounted the transactions in
relation to the taking posession by the religious of the Order of
St. Augustine of a certain chapel of Nuestra Señora de Guia, which
had been erected into a parish; and how the friars of the Order of
St. Francis, on their own authority, and without any permission,
had established another church in the village of Dilao; and the
freedom with which the said fathers of St. Augustine acted, and
the arrogance shown by them in not receiving a visitor of their
order. As these are matters that should be carefully looked after,
I charge and command you neither to allow nor give opportunity for
such irregularities, and to take measures to check and correct them,
with the utmost discretion, and by the most expedient means possible,
advising me of all that may occur. Valladolid, on the third of June
of the year one thousand six hundred and four.
_I The King_
Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council.
[_Note at beginning of MS._: "To the governor of the Philipinas,
directing him to take effective measures to check and correct in future
the high-handed proceedings of the Augustinian religious. Corrected."]
The King: Most reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of Manila,
and member of my Council: A letter from you has been received and
examined in my Council of the Yndias, from which has been learned your
advice to the effect that when it is necessary to summon councils
to discuss reforms in certain matters, the religious of the orders
do not attend them as they should, availing themselves as they do
of the privileges which they hold; and that some of them abandon the
missions of Indians which they have already instructed and baptized,
and dispose of and exchange the appurtenances and furniture of the
churches where they administer the sacraments. I thank you for the care
and zeal for the service of our Lord with which you ascertained this,
and have given me an account of it. However, in so far as concerns the
councils, measures will be taken to have his Holiness order a brief
to be issued directing the said religious to attend the said councils
when the prelates summon them. As for the exchanges and sales of the
properties of the churches which you say the teaching religious make,
you will check these by the remedies of the law, excommunicating and
punishing those who oppose you. Accordingly I charge you to do this;
and to be watchful for the preservation and instruction of the natives,
so that what they need may be furnished to them everywhere, for this
is the principal thing that should be looked to by all the ministers
of the gospel. Valladolid, on the thirtieth day of July in the year
one thousand six hundred and four.
_I The King_
Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council.
[_Note at beginning of MS._: "Reply to the archbishop of Manila in
regard to stopping the bartering and sale of church furniture by the
religious who give instruction."]