The King. To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia resident
in the city of Manila of the Filipinas Islands: it has been reported in
my royal Council of the Yndias that there is in that city a seminary
named Santa Potenciana, of which I am patron; that it was established
for orphan girls, and for the reception of married women when their
husbands are occupied in my service in various parts; and that for
some years the custom has been introduced of sheltering in the said
seminary certain women who live scandalously. [I am also told] that,
since this is of so great service to God our Lord, you, my president,
have given orders to the mother rector of the said seminary not to
receive in the seminary any woman sent by the archbishop of that
church, or by his provisor; and that no one of its inmates may
leave it. It has been judged best to order you (as I do hereby)
to take what measures appear to you most advisable in this matter,
considering all ends. Given in Madrid, November eight, one thousand
six hundred and thirty-eight.