to, I do not know that it is said in so harsh terms. What I do know
is that the royal patronage gives him authority, in punishing the
seculars and ecclesiastics, to remove them when they undertake to
meddle with what does not concern them. [In regard to the charge]
that he prevents the soldiers from becoming religious, no such thing
enters his mind. His order is that, before the soldiers embrace a
religious life, they shall inform him of it, so that their accounts
may first be examined, to ascertain whether they owe anything to
the king, in order that it may be paid before they become religious
[58]--as was ruled by Sixtus V in his bull. Here in Manila there is
another thing which further justifies this action of the governor,
namely, that many soldiers embrace a religious life with the sole
intention of getting rid of their duties as soldiers; and then after
a few months as novitiate, many vagabonds go out. In order to avoid
that annoyance, it is well to have it appear and to have it noted in
their accounts that they became religious, so that, if they leave
that life, they may be compelled to serve the king. If this is not
so, let the authors of the other relation tell [of any one] who has
asked permission to become a religious who, if he is not indebted to
the king, has not obtained his desires.

[Resuming my narrative], the formal letter, then, which the archbishop
wrote to the father rector of the Society, Luis de Pedrasa, is
as follows:

"The governor has today written a letter to the provisor, in which
he says that it is fitting for the service of his Majesty for him
to go to the island of Hermosa, to serve as chaplain-in-chief and
vicar of those presidios--and this without any opportunity being
afforded the provisor to ask my consent. It appears to me, Father
Rector, that this is a very grave matter; and it seems best to call
a council of the bishops and of all the orders, so that, we may
decide that two of those at the meeting shall proceed to ascertain
the authority possessed by the governor _in spiritualibus_ [_i.e.,_
"in spiritual matters"], in order that we may not continue day after
day with these letters and these mandates. Since I advise you of the
point which is to be discussed in the meeting, I beg your Paternity
to do me the favor to be present at it, and to bring with you the
father confessor of the governor and two father readers tomorrow
morning, Tuesday, at eight o'clock; for thus is it advisable