_Petition of the abbess_
Sire:
The abbess and nuns of the convent of St. Clare of the city of Manila
declare that his Majesty, King Don Phelipe Second, ordered that
convent to be founded, and your Majesty is patron of it. That convent,
following the rule of the glorious St. Francis, has no income, but is
sustained by the alms given to it by devout persons. Benefactors of
the said convent--among them Captain Gaspar Mendes, treasurer of the
said convent--have given certain pay-warrants which amount to about
six or seven thousand pesos, in order that with it the said nuns may
attend to some necessary works in the said house (and especially in the
church), of which they are greatly in need. In consideration of that,
the said abbess petitions and beseeches your Majesty, since this is so
proper a work, to order the governor and royal officials to pay the
said warrants above mentioned, for the said purpose; and those nuns
will receive that as a special alms from your Majesty's royal hand.
[_Endorsed:_ "April 16, 636. Let her present the warrants of which
she speaks, and let her declare whence they proceed."]
Don Juan Grau, who is the person who is attending to this matter,
declares that, according to the knowledge of it which he possesses,
these warrants have not been sent to him; and that those which are
cited in the memorial were given by soldiers from their pay, and by
other persons which proceed from the same source. They have done it in
their zeal to see so holy a work progress, as the need of those nuns
is so great, and their institute so poor, since they cannot possess
incomes. Consequently, they live solely on the alms given to them by
devout persons.