d with persons who are free to speak
their minds to your Lordship. May our Lord preserve your Lordship
and prosper you in His holy service. Today, Tuesday, October nine,
six hundred and thirty-five.

_Fray Hernando_, archbishop."

The governor answered the above letter of the archbishop as follows:

"I do not think that your Lordship desires peace and harmony as
you say, since you order me to receive the excuse of Don Pedro de
Monrroy in what I ask from him, which is fitting to the service of
his Majesty. I am doing it with all peace, without desiring war,
and without seeking war with anyone. Many can supply your Lordship's
need of his person, who are better intentioned and more learned,
in accordance with his Majesty's orders in his royal decree.

On the contrary, your Lordship has rather too much of Don Pedro de
Monrroy than too little, for the quiet, harmony, and good government
of your church.

I am not ignorant that the approval of ecclesiastical persons is
reserved to the prelates in order that they may administer the
sacraments; but the appointing of them belongs to the government
by virtue of the royal patrimony, just as his Majesty appointed
your Lordship bishop and archbishop, and as his Holiness approved
and confirmed it. Consequently, I cannot, even though your Lordship
orders it, abstain from appointing curas and vicars, choosing from
three whom your Lordship ought to nominate, the person whom I shall
consider most suitable. In the case of canons and dignidades of this
holy church, governors of vacant bishoprics, and chaplains, superior
and subordinate, of the soldiers, presidios, and galleons of his
Majesty, I need no nomination by your Lordship, although they need
your approval. If your Lordship writes me thus 'at the advice of the
bishop of Zebu and of the orders, so that I may see that your Lordship
is not moved by passion, but by reason and justice,' I am moved by
passion in ordering that all who came to these islands at the king's
cost or in his galleons, and who are his vassals, whatever be their
rank and degree, shall serve him. And when I say that this is fitting
for his royal service, only his Majesty can call me to account for it.

I value the advice given me by your Lordship that, when I make
decisions, I take counsel with persons who are free to speak their
mind to me. When I take counsel for the better service of God and
the king, I look for the most learned men of good reputation,