n the interest of this plea;
and he represents that the college of San Ignacio is one founded by
your Majesty, and the earliest, and is older than that of Santo Tomas;
he also asserts its precedence and other prerogatives adjudged to it
in the said trial. Its teaching staff has been, as it will continue
to be, adorned with the needed endowments and learning; and that the
Society will, as is usual in such cases, carefully teach and train
youth follows from its statutes; and the results of its labors in this
direction are well known. For its teachers it has never demanded any
fees, nor have they any other reward than the luster which is derived
from the learning and uprightness of the scholars. They need no royal
endowment for their support and maintenance, nor will they ever apply
for one. From the revenues enjoyed by the college and the favor shown
by your Majesty from the beginning of their earliest establishments
they will maintain themselves and be gladly occupied in the fulfilment
of this duty. Your Majesty will be their only patron and will give them
such statutes as he shall please for their better government. Moreover,
without having the royal exchequer put to the slightest expense,
application will be made to his Holiness for bulls whereby this
institution may win greater renown; while it will be subject in all
things to the behest and commands of your Majesty and your Council,
as ever has been the notable course of the Society of Jesus in those
regions, in order that you may clearly see and understand its mode of
procedure and how consistent are its actions. As a favor from your
Majesty, it prays with the utmost earnestness and respect that you
will be pleased to command that the papers and reports bearing on
this matter in the secretary's office be examined and compared--not
only those from the present governor, but those from his predecessor;
and especially what the latter wrote in the year 49, on the occasion
of his referring [to the Council] this lawsuit. Therein will appear
the arguments in opposition to the college of Santo Tomas, and
the decisions thereon--among others, the fact that its graduates
and students have to take oath that they will uphold the teachings
of Saint Thomas [of Aquino]. As a matter of fact, in the renowned
universities of the world an oath is taken to defend whatever the
consensus of Christian piety has decreed--as during these days was
sworn to amid public demonstrations and applaus