In the seminary for orphan girls, which was founded in this city
by order of King Don Filippe, our sovereign and the father of your
Majesty, four classes of persons are sheltered: the daughters of old
conquerors and soldiers of these islands, who, as these have nothing
to leave them, are left unprotected; the illegitimate daughters of
Spaniards and Indian women (and they are numerous), every one of whom
is ruined if she is not sheltered here, because of the great laxity [of
morals] in the country; and all are taught and instructed until they
depart married. Some married women who quarrel with their husbands are
also sheltered there, until the trouble is smoothed over; and there are
some poor widows. It is a work of great charity, and one that prevents
great offenses to God. But it receives so little aid that the girls are
in need. They are barefoot and almost naked, have wretched food, and
live in very narrow, obscure, and damp, and consequently unhealthy,
quarters. They are treated at the hospital. They have a church,
so poor that it has no one to give it a shred as an ornament. The
rearing of the girls suffers great injury from their being mingled
with the married women, for there is no money with which to build
them separate quarters. All of these things are causes that prevent
them from living acceptably, and keep them under forcible restraint;
while from growing up amid so great poverty and destitution of all
things, they do not attract the attention of Spaniards, and lower
themselves by marrying Indians. Consequently, all the good ends
sought in their rearing are frustrated, and among those ends, the
growth of the Spanish population in these regions. I consider myself
as the chaplain of this seminary to advise your Majesty of all this
(for I think that it is contrary to your royal pleasure and purpose),
so that, as its author and only patron, you may correct that state
of affairs. It can be corrected by giving the institution some
more Indians in encomienda; by adding three more toneladas, in the
distribution of the cargo, to the three that are given annually; by
raising to thirty its twelve Indians of service, who bring it water
and wood; and by ordering that ornaments be given to its church from
the royal treasury, as is done to the other churches, and from the
royal hospital the necessary medicines, at the written request of
the physician and the rectoress. And at present, for enlarging and
fitting up the house, your Majesty could give some alms. For its good
management, your Majesty might aid the pious intent of Licentiate
Hernando de los Rios, procurator of this city, to bring nuns to found
a convent in this city, from which nuns might be sent every three
years to govern this seminary; for through lack of persons who can
be placed in charge of it, and who are suitable for that post, it is
and has been managed by only one woman, although four are needed. If
your Majesty wishes a more detailed relation of these and other things
of this your house, Licentiate Hernando de los Rios will give it to
you, for he is well informed of everything. Consequently I finish
by entreating your Majesty to have pity on these poor creatures,
who all continually pray for your Majesty's health, which may our
Lord preserve for many years. Manila, July 15, 617.
_Juan Oñez_
_Petition_
Very Potent Sir:
I, Diego de Castro, administrator of the seminary of Sancta Potenciana
of this city, and its majordomo, declare that the encomienda of
Indians was granted to the said seminary, as appears by the decree
I present under oath, both to send before the king our sovereign for
its confirmation, and to present to his royal Council of the Indias.
I beg and supplicate your Majesty [sic; apparently error for
"Lordship"] to give me one copy or more of the said concession with
the judicial comment of his Majesty's fiscal, for the purpose above
mentioned; and to return the original for a warrant to the said
seminary, and for the sanction of the law in the whole matter.
_Diego de Castro_
In the city of Manila, in public session of the Audiencia, on August
three, one thousand six hundred and seventeen. Give it to him, as
he asks.
_Pedro Muñoz de Herrera_
I declare that I was summoned in Manila, August twelve, one thousand
six hundred and seventeen.
_Licentiate Don Juan de Alvarado Bracamonte_
And I, Christoval Martin Franco, chief clerk of the government and
military office of these Philipinas Islands, declare that I do now
despatch this matter because Gaspar Alvarez is prevented from doing it.
I ordered to be drawn, and drew, the copy requested by the above
petition from the original concession which was presented for this
purpose by Diego de Castro, majordomo (and so at present) of the said
seminary of Santa Potenciana, and it is literally as follows:
[_Marginal note_: "Concession of encomienda."]
Don Juan de Silva, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and
captain-general in these islands; and president of the royal Audiencia
and Chancillería resident therein, etc. Inasmuch as the native towns
of Guas and Libon in the province of Camarines have been declared
vacant, because of the expiration of the period granted to General Don
Juan Tello de Guzman, who held and possessed them, and his failure
to establish a colony, as he was obliged; and since they are to be
given in encomienda as his Majesty commands: therefore, considering
the same, I place the said encomienda of Guas and Libon under the
royal crown, together with their subjects, tingues, and mountains,
according to and in the form and manner that the said general Don Juan
Tello held and enjoyed it, so that the retreat of Sancta Potenciana
may enjoy and collect forever the products and profits of the said
encomienda. The pension of five hundred pesos received annually from
the gambling-houses of this camp by the said retreat is repealed and
suppressed, provided it be paid the amount due therefrom up to the day
of this concession. In respect to the collection of the tributes of
the said natives, the appraisement last made for that province must be
observed, and it shall not be exceeded under any consideration, under
penalty of the ordinances, decrees, and provisions of his Majesty,
made for the Yndias. It shall be seen to that the said natives are
well treated, and instructed in the matters of our holy Catholic
faith; and in regard to that, it is charged upon the consciences [of
the directors of the seminary] and taken from that of his Majesty,
and from mine in his royal name. The Indians shall not be harassed
or injured by the collectors who go to collect the said tributes,
nor by any other person. Given in Manila, December twenty-seven,
one thousand six hundred and ten.
_Don Juan De Silva_
By order of the governor:
_Gaspar Alvarez_
The account of the concession of this other part was taken from the
record-book of royal decrees and other papers of this accountancy
of Manila. Given in that city, April twenty-eight, one thousand six
hundred and eleven.
_Thomas Montero_
The above copy is faithful, and is accurately corrected and collated
with the said original concession, which was returned to the people,
and I refer to that. And the said petition and order I gave the
present, witnesses being Juan Vazquez de Miranda and Don Francisco
Veltran, citizens of Manila, where this is given on the fourteenth
of the month of August, one thousand six hundred and seventeen.
_Christoval Martin Franco_
Corrected.
Sire:
The seminary of Santa Potenciana of the city of Manila, where your
Majesty has had the kindness to order the poor unmarried daughters
of conquerors to be sheltered, and which your Majesty sustains and
founded, declares that your governor Don Juan de Silva took from
it a pension that it possessed for the aid of its support in the
said city, and in its place, applied the products of the encomienda
of Guas and Libon in the province of Camarines, and apportioned the
said encomienda to your royal crown for the support of the girls and
for divine worship. The seminary petitions your Majesty to concede
it the grace of confirming that favor, since its service to God and
to your Majesty is so great.
[_Addressed_: "To Secretary Santiago Florez."]
[_Endorsed_: "The Council ordered, September 9, 1619, that the fiscal
examine the matter."]
The fiscal declares that this confirmation is not asked for within
the four years, although the patent of the governor does not assign
any period for obtaining the confirmation; neither does it state
that a confirmation must be obtained. The work appears charitable
and advisable, and consequently the Council can grant it what favor
it pleases. Madrid, September 10, 1619.
On the 23d of November, 619, the Council, after consideration, ordered
the governor and Audiencia, at the summons of his Majesty's fiscal,
to report on the value and advisability [of such grant]; and that for
that purpose a decree of investigation be given in legal form. They
shall cite especially what charitable works have been strengthened by
other encomiendas; the disadvantages or benefits that may result from
this; whether it is an estate that continues to increase or decrease;
and what harm may result to the royal patrimony.