This college was founded at the beginning of the seventeenth century;
their Excellencies, Benavides and Soria, the one archbishop of Manila,
and the other bishop of Nueva Segovia, giving their libraries for
that purpose, and, in addition, the former giving 1,000 pesos and
the latter 1,800. Already finished in 1619, it was admitted as a
house of the province of Preachers in the islands, as appears from
the records of the intermediary chapter celebrated in Santo Domingo,
April 20, with the suitable license of the superior government and of
the ordinary. In 1620 it already had lecturers and masters for public
teaching, and November 27, 1623, his Majesty admitted it under his
royal protection. It was erected into a university at the instance
of the said monarch Felipe IV, by a bull of Innocent X, November 20,
1645, which was passed by the supreme Council of Indias July 28,
1646. By a decree of May 17, 1680, the university was received under
the royal protection, his Majesty declaring himself its patron. In
consequence of another decree of December 7, 1781, the rules were
made, which, approved by the superior government October 20, 1786 as
they were prepared are those which are in force at present. Their
cloister is composed of various doctors, licentiates, and masters,
although in reality only twenty-one of the first and second kinds
form it. The number of collegiates is ruled by circumstances, and
the college supports them, for they have to dress and provide shoes
for many. Their funds are ministered by lay-brother religious. This
college and royal university is in charge of the Dominican religious,
who teach Latin, logic, physics, metaphysics, moral and canon law,
and theology. In addition there is a chair of institute, and another
of native law. In this university 581 students are studying, who are
classified thus:
Collegiates 61
Capistas [122] 15
Day Pupils 505
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Total 581