It is an abuse that since the regulars have possessed the curacies
for so many years and with so many troubles [ensuing therefrom],
they have not, although the country is so wealthy and their fees and
parish dues are so heavy, thought of relieving the king of the hard
and intolerable burden of paying them a stipend in money, with rice,
wine for the mass, and oil; and, in those curacies which they call
missions, even the escorts for the guard of the father--who runs
no risk and for that reason is not accustomed to have any escort,
although the king always pays for them. [77]
What vassal who has even the most lukewarm regard and respect for
his king could keep still when the curacies of Binondo, Santa Cruz,
and the Parian (which are under the cannon of Manila), and that of
Tondo, which are, with but little difference, worth to the regulars,
the first, six or seven thousand pesos in obventions, and the others
but little less, nevertheless draw from the king the stipend in the
things mentioned above?