[_Endorsed:_ "Manila. Government matters. 1636."
"June ten, six hundred and thirty-eight."
"Ascertain whether anything has been written about this matter by
the previous governors, and take it to the fiscal to be examined,
together with what advices there are concerning this."
"It does not appear that the governors have written anything about
this."
"The fiscal declares that since there are interested parties in this
separation of the communal fund (namely, the Chinese of the Parian
and those of Tondo), and since there is a suit pending between the
two orders of St. Dominic and the Society, he cannot decide upon this
matter until the parties have been heard in court, and the dispute
between them settled according to law, especially if the facts are
not evident by other authentic papers in this case which justify it,
besides only this letter of the governor. Consequently, he opposes
the approval that is requested, until he can examine in greater detail
the things mentioned here by a more thorough knowledge of the cause,
after the parties have been cited in court. Madrid, June 30, 1638."
"July 24, 638. The new governor who shall go [to the islands] shall,
together with the Audiencia, investigate the matter."]
[_In the margin:_ "He proposes names for protector of the Chinese;
and in the meantime, Doctor Luis Arias de Mora is appointed, to whom
are assigned two hundred pesos in addition to the eight hundred that
he receives as a salary, so that he may exercise his duties as the
archbishop's counselor jointly with this office."]
Sire:
Your Majesty has ordered that your fiscal shall not be protector of
the Chinese who live near the city, and that six persons be proposed
so that your Majesty may choose according to your pleasure. All the
time while I have been in this government, the said Chinese have been
without a protector. Thus I have had the care and task of administering
justice to them; and, although they have an alcalde-mayor, they
are satisfied only with what rulings the government makes. This
royal Audiencia has only three advocates--or four, counting Doctor
Ledo, who is at present serving as your Majesty's fiscal. I have
appointed Doctor Luis Arias de Mora, who is the senior, and a person
of excellent abilities, to attend to this matter until your Majesty
shall order otherwise. Licentiate Nicolas Antonio de Omana is also a
good person, as is Licentiate Manuel Suarez de Olibera, who is serving
as auditor-general and my assessor. I have assigned two hundred pesos
additional salary to the eight hundred of the protectorship to Don
Luis Arias de Mora; for, in addition to exercising this office, he is
the archbishop's counselor. Therefore he despatches and performs what
pertains to him in ecclesiastical matters, without meddling with the
royal patronage and jurisdiction of your Majesty, as the archbishop has
tried to do hitherto. By that means I think that the archbishop will
be quiet, and we shall be able to live in peace. Doctor Luis Arias is
a person who merits honor from your Majesty by giving him this charge,
in which he will be excellently employed. May our Lord preserve your
Majesty's Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila,
the last of June, 1636. Sire, your vassal kisses your Majesty's feet.