I
Decree of King Felipe V to the royal Audiencia of Manila, in regard
to a seminary which the king ordered to be founded in that city.
President and Auditors of my royal Audiencia of the city of Manila, in
the Filipinas Islands: By a despatch of April 28, of the former year,
1702, I ordered the master-of-camp, Don Domingo de Zabalburu, then
governor and captain-general of those islands, to order the foundation
in that city of a seminary with the number of eight seminarists; the
cost of its building and support to be met from the assets proceeding
from the vacant bishoprics of those islands. There was also to be
applied for this purpose what might be necessary from the tithes. In
case what was assigned for these expenses was insufficient, the sum
lacking was to be supplied by my royal treasury. I advised him of the
equity with which he was to work in this matter, which should be with
the advice of the archbishop of that metropolitan church (to whom
the same charge was made). He was to inform me of the advance made
in the foundation of the above-mentioned seminary. But not learning
from him what he has spent, the apostolic nuncio who resides in this
capital has informed me of the news that his Holiness possesses (by
report of Cardinal Tournon, [96] after conferring with the archbishop,
Don Diego Camacho y Avila, at present bishop of Guadalajara) of the
progress of the seminary founded by the above-mentioned archbishop
in that city, and that Abbot Sidoti [97] (one of the missionaries
who went to China) in the time when he was detained there [i.e., in
Manila] in order to pass to Japon, settled the differences existing
between the governor and archbishop, and that they had delayed this
foundation. That foundation was then much advanced by the means which
he applied therefor, and the copious alms which were contributed by the
faithful, especially by the inhabitants of the islands near that city,
who had given to the abovesaid abbot for that purpose, all the wood
which was necessary, and had paid seven hundred men for its cutting
and transportation. With that wood a large edifice was built near the
church and archiepiscopal palace. At the rate at which the work was
advancing, many were encouraged to enter the seminary in which were
more than eighty seminarists. Some of them were those appointed by the
above-mentioned my governor, as my vice-patron. Others were supported
by the assistance of their parents, and others by the piety of the
faithful. For that reason the archbishop needed teachers to devote
themselves to the education of that family, and his Holiness praising
the pious mind with which at my expense (as protector of religion)
its promotion has been begun in those islands, and desiring that the
gospel law be more defended in them every day, he had condescended,
at the instances of archbishop and governor, and had given permission
to Cardinal Tournon so that he might send to the assistance of the
above-mentioned seminary one of his apostolic men, of tried virtue and
ability, so that, it being my royal pleasure, he might be employed
in instructing those recently converted, and in educating all who
come from the neighboring kingdom in the gospel doctrine. Since that
intent is so pleasing to God (since its purpose is to extend His true
worship) his Blessedness trusted that it would be acceptable to me,
and that I would give order for the furnishing of the fitting means, in
order that so worthy an undertaking might be perfected and maintained,
since by means of it the rearing in my domains of apostolic men would
be obtained with the education of the greatest consideration, and the
veneration due my royal person. Without prejudice to the seminary,
and to the advantage of that city, very worthy subjects [it was
represented] would graduate therefrom for the ministry of preachers,
and for the office of parish priests, and those islands would be
provided with very worthy subjects who would perform the duties of
the apostolic institute, without there resulting to my royal treasury
the vast expense of their transportation to so remote provinces,
and of their maintenance therein. That representation having been
examined in my Council of the Indias, and they consulting with me in
regard to it, I have resolved to give notice of these things (as is
done by the despatch of this day) to my governor and captain-general
of those islands, telling him our great astonishment that that news
has arrived by the medium through which it has been received, without
his predecessor (in fulfilment of his first and due obligation) having
informed me of so unexpected an innovation as that of having admitted
into those islands foreign persons, to whose active effort the Roman
court has been able to attribute the progress of the conversions and
the propagation of our holy faith, when the principal consideration
of my Catholic zeal consists in the despatch and support (at so
great expense to my royal treasury) of the great number of learned
missionaries of the orders which are established in those islands;
that what the above-mentioned governor permitted is so contrary to
the obligation and fulfilment of that purpose, as is manifest in
the displeasure with which I view the fact that he allowed (with
so great offense to my service) the excessive number of seminarists
who have been received in the new college, many of them not being my
vassals, but foreigners, who are admitted without my express license;
that I should hear this great innovation and those harmful acts by
other medium than that of my vassals and ministers; and that the
conditions established in the foundation which I resolved with so
great anticipation should be made, were altered. I order and command
that, as soon as the despatch which is sent is received, without the
least delay, all the foreign seminarists in the said seminary shall be
immediately removed therefrom; and of those who shall be my vassals,
those in excess of the number of the eight whom I have preferred,
for whose support the calculation has been made, by settling the
suitable compensation with the teachers. Those who desire to be
admitted as boarders shall not exceed sixteen in number, because of
the inconveniences that would result from giving a greater extension
to their entrance into the territory where there are so few Spanish
inhabitants, in which it is necessary for the natives to apply
themselves to the cultivation of the fields and the industries of the
community without anyone being able to enter without your license,
as my vice-patron. Especial care shall be taken for the encouragement
and aid by all possible means for the progress and completion of the
seminary, which I have founded, so that it may exist in the form
and according to the laws established for that purpose, without
violating those laws in any manner. The persons who aided in the
building of the new seminary in good faith with edifices, incomes,
and other things, which they liberally applied and gave for it, shall
be petitioned to condescend to apply it all for the seminary which
I have ordered to be founded. That seminary is to be maintained in
the form abovesaid. In case that such persons do not agree thereto,
they shall be paid the just price of all that which shall be esteemed
useful and advantageous to the above-mentioned seminary. That which
shall be considered as useless for this purpose, shall be restored
to its own owners, in the manner which may be suitable, excepting the
edifices which might not be necessary and which must be destroyed. Not
less is the innovation and wonder that has been caused that, on your
part, I have not been informed of what was done in the above-mentioned
seminary, contrary to what I have determined and established for its
foundation, incurring also with your undue tolerance and forgetfulness
of the fulfilment of your obligation and ministry the same guilt as
the governor, and my displeasure. I have desired to inform you of
it and to order you (as I do) that in case the above-mentioned, my
governor and captain-general, does not fulfil the above expressed,
my resolution, with the exactness and in the form which has been
ordered him, you shall execute it without permitting the least delay,
because of its great importance to my service. You shall inform me
of all that may conduce to the success of this matter, in order that
I may be thoroughly advised of it. Given in Madrid, March 3, 1710.