May Jesus, our salvation, dwell in the soul of your royal
Majesty. Although I am but wretched dust and ashes, I make bold to
write this letter since I am, in company with two other religious of
the Order of our seraphic father St. Francis, appointed to minister
in this royal hospital of your royal Majesty (which is called the
hospital of Sancta Ana) for the natives; in it all the natives of all
these islands are cared for, and it is situated in this city of Manila.
Favors were granted to this hospital by our most Catholic king and
sovereign, never sufficiently to be praised, your royal Majesty's
father, Don Phelipe (whom may God keep in His heaven!); he allowed it
one thousand five hundred fanegas of rice, one thousand five hundred
fowls, two hundred pieces of cloth from Ylocos, five hundred ducados
in money, and four toneladas of freight--this last being worth, one
year with another, four hundred pesos. With this income (and we have
no other), usually as many as two hundred poor persons are supported
and cared for in this hospital; besides these, there are three or
four religious who care for the sick and administer the sacraments,
and a considerable number of other people who are in the service of
the hospital. So small is the income, sacred Majesty, and so many are
the poor who come for help, that often we suffer great hardships; for
it is the glory of this hospital not only to belong to your Majesty,
but also not to turn away any one who comes to it to be treated.
For this reason we religious who are in this hospital, as servants of
the poor who are cared for in it, entreat your royal Majesty with the
utmost humility that you will grant us aid so that we can treat these
poor people with somewhat more convenience; and we especially entreat
your royal Majesty that you will favor us by commanding that the said
four toneladas of freight be continued to us, as we are accustomed
to ship the goods free of customs duties or any other dues, whether
in this city of Manila or in Nueva España, or in any other parts of
your Majesty's realms where your ships enter.
In this your royal Majesty will render a great service to God our
Lord; and may He preserve for us your royal Majesty, with increase
of His holy grace, and life and prosperity, as your loyal servants
desire. At Manila, July 3, 1599. Your royal Majesty's humble servant,
_Domingo de Santiago_.
[_Endorsed_: "Manila; to his Majesty; Domingo de Santiago, for the
hospital of Santa Ana at Manilla. Referred by his Majesty, who directs
that the archbishop and governor shall send information regarding
the treatment of the sick in this hospital, and whether its income
is sufficient for its needs. They shall also ascertain how its funds
are disbursed, and if the accounts are audited; and if anything is
lacking that is absolutely necessary, let them advise what and how
much should be provided, in their opinion."]
Catholic and Royal Majesty:
Antonio Valerio, steward of the royal hospital which the discalced
religious of our seraphic father St. Francis founded in the city of
Manila, with royal expenditures and some alms, for the cure and healing
of all these natives of all these Philipinas Islands which belong
to your royal Majesty. I declare that although in this hospital we,
three religious and myself, serve for the love of God our Lord--by our
services saving the salaries of physician, surgeon, apothecary, and
other officers; and I performing the duties of steward, and the said
religious treating, as they do, all the sick, besides administering the
sacraments--the work of this hospital is continually increasing to such
an extent, by its aiding so many sick persons, and from so many places,
that although the gifts which your royal Majesty has made to this your
hospital are great, they are not sufficient to meet the necessary
expenses to which the said hospital is liable. For the usual number
of those who are cared for in it ranges from one hundred and sixty
to two hundred poor persons; besides, most of the poor people of this
city are provided from this hospital with ointments and medicines for
their ailments. On account of these expenses the hospital is unable
to accomplish many works which should be done--for instance, a house
for the workmen and servants, the improvement of the vegetable-garden,
and other things necessary for the treatment of the sick.
For these reasons I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty, with the
utmost humility, on my own part and on that of the said poor who are
treated in the hospital, that you will do us the favor of adding some
further charity to the grants which you have made to this hospital, for
the supply of the many wants which arise every day and are increasing.
Still further, I entreat and supplicate your royal Majesty that the
favor which the Catholic and royal Majesty, Don Phelipe our lord,
the father of your royal Majesty (whom may God our Lord keep in His
heaven!), granted to us, by commanding that we be allowed to send
four toneladas of freight in his royal ships, be also continued to
us free from customs duties and any other dues which pertain to your
royal Majesty, whether in this city of Manila or in Nueva España,
or in any other part of your realms.
Moreover, since the minister of this hospital is always a father who
is a priest, who will administer the sacraments not only to the sick
who come to the said hospital for treatment, but to all the people
who serve therein or who reside on the stock-farm which belongs to
the hospital, as well as to many other people in all this city and
in the islands who usually come to this hospital for confession;
and besides this, your Majesty pays from his royal treasury the
archbishop, qura, and canons of the cathedral of Manila for their
labors in ministering to the Indians, in all matters for which the
tithes are not sufficient--I entreat your royal Majesty to command
your royal officials in this city of Manila that they recompense
the said archbishop, cura, and canons in such manner that they shall
not enter the stock-farm of the said hospital to collect tithes and
firstfruits, since hitherto they have never entered there. And in
all things I entreat the royal Majesty of your royal Majesty, etc.