of the gypsies
in Espana."

[15] Montero y Vidal adds: "It is seen, then, that the Christian
population in charge of the Jesuits in Mindanao and adjacent regions
was at that time 50,000 souls. The discalced Augustinians, who had
gone to aid the Jesuits in 1621 in extending their jurisdictions of
Butuan and Caraga, had 20,000 more or so in charge. As the entire
population of the island was, according to Father Colin, calculated
at that time at 150,000, it follows that more than two-fifths had
embraced Christianity and were obedient to Spanish authority."

[16] Before embracing a religious life, Brother Francisco Bello (or
Vello) had been a fine business man and merchant, and had a thorough
knowledge of the Orient. See Pastells's Colin, iii, p. 806.

[17] Considerable legislation took place in regard to these two
memorials. They were submitted to Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera,
who indited his reply from Santander, November 22, 1658, in which he
corroborated the statements of Vello, and advises that the suggestions
in both be followed. They were also submitted to one Licentiate
Antonio de Leon Pinedo, because of his knowledge of such matters,
who answered under date of Madrid, January 10, 1659, advising that
the forts of Terrenate be annexed to the spiritual jurisdiction
of the Philippines. The fiscal, reporting on the matter at Madrid,
February 11, 1659, also favors the establishment of a tribunal of the
Inquisition at Manila and the merging of the Terrenate forts in the
archbishopric of Manila. On March 11, 1659, the council resolved that
the viceroy and Audiencia of Nueva Espana report pro and con on the
founding of a tribunal of the Inquisition in Manila, after conferring
with the inquisitor of Mexico; also that the governor and archbishop
of the Philippines report on the means of supporting a tribunal of the
Inquisition without royal expense. A royal decree of April 24, 1659,
directed to the governor and Audiencia of the Philippines, orders them
to report pro and con on the separation of the Terrenate forts from
the bishopric of Malacca and their addition to the archbishopric
of Manila. Another decree of like date addressed to the viceroy
and Audiencia of Nueva Espana orders a report on the establishment
of a tribunal in Manila. Although the memorials are without date,
it is probable that they were presented to the royal Council in the
latter part of 1658; for Bello succeeded Patino as procurator-general
at Tener