with the knowledge that is advisable, to inform me
on the first opportunity that offers of the condition of the work on
the said residence, what is still to be built, and how much it will
cost; and whether the said Society of Jesus has enough funds with which
to build it, without our continuing the said concession and alms, as I
have so many alms to grant, and things so greatly needing attention,
on which account it is needful to retrench as much as possible. You
shall send me the said report, together with your opinion, through the
said my Council of the Yndias, so that, after they have examined it,
the most advisable measures may be taken. Given in Madrid, July ten,
one thousand six hundred and thirty-five.

_I the King_
By order of the king our sovereign:
_Don Gabriel Ocana y Alarcon_
Signed by the gentlemen of the Council.

LETTER FROM PEDRO DE ARCE TO FELIPE IV

Although my age is now so advanced, and I was very contented in
my bishopric of the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jhesus (which is
commonly called Cebu), I was forced to leave my quiet because of
the death of the archbishop of Manila, Don Fray Garcia Serrano,
which happened more than six years ago, in order to come to govern
this archbishopric of Manila during the period of its vacancy, as
such was ordered by his Holiness Paul V, in a bull which he gave at
the petition of your Majesty's father (whom may holy Paradise keep!),
providing that the senior bishop of Philipinas should come to govern
the church at Manila for three vacancies in this metropolitan see. Thus
the lot fell to me to come; and the urgency with which the governor
and the Audiencia begged me to come gave me no room for excuses,
or to represent my indispositions and advanced age.

During the time while I have been in this government, there has been
great peace and harmony between the ecclesiastical and civil powers;
and we have always endeavored to promote the cause of our Lord and the
service of your Majesty, as we all are bound to do. I have not left the
government until now, when the bulls of this archbishopric came for
Don Fray Hernando Guerrero; for, although he had a decree from your
Majesty, the bulls, as I say, had not arrived, and I was governing
by a bull of his Holiness, with a decree from your Majesty. Having
consulted in regard to it with erudite men, theologians and jurists,
as to whether I could give up the government of the archbishopric
to Don Fray Hernando