pensable, have now but one. In the great island of Mindanao,
nearly one-half of the civilized villages are without a minister, and
consequently many people die without the sacraments. It is necessary
for one minister to attend to one, two, three, or four villages which
are very distant from one another, when each village needs its own
priests. They do not hesitate, for all that, to go in the fleets
when opportunity offers, in the capacity of chaplains, and in the
shipyards where galleons are built. In those duties they have performed
well-known and special services to our Lord and to your Majesty.

By the industry of the said religious, and by the toil and hardships
which can be understood, they have aided the arms of your Majesty;
and the kings of Jolo and Mindanao, who were the ones who had rebelled
and were destroying the islands with their plunderings, were reduced
to peace, and today are increasing their friendship. The greatest
foundation for that friendship is the example furnished by the said
religious in their lands, and in the region where they have their
missions, such as the mild and fitting treatment that they employ,
according to their custom, having hopes [thereby] to gain the natives
for God; for they listen without any reluctance to the matters of
our holy Catholic faith from the mouths of the fathers, and learn
from them very willingly.

The poverty of the houses of the said Society is as great as that which
the inhabitants suffer, who are the fount whence originates all the
support of this order and all the others. For since they are so poor,
they cannot aid with the generosity that they might wish this and the
other orders, the colleges, hospitals, prisoners, and brotherhoods. For
that reason it was necessary to beg alms from door to door for more
than five years, in order that they might maintain the college of
this city and the few fathers in it; and the reason why they have
ceased to beg is not because the need is not the same and greater,
but because it is recognized that the citizens cannot continue their
aid. For that reason the said father procurator-general of the said
order is going [to Espana], as others have gone, as he can expect no
more aid here. Consequently, it will be necessary to make heavy loans
there, if your Majesty do not please to order that he be assisted
in that royal court, and in Sevilla and Mexico, with your usual
liberality. This city humbly petitions your Majesty to be m