he means, however harsh, that I shall
find available. May God direct the matter, and may He guide me in all
things so that I may be successful in serving your Lordship. Given
at the palace, this day, Sunday.

_Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera_"

In order to bring about that settlement, the governor went, November
20, to see the archbishop, whom he consoled; and he offered to do
all in his power in favor of his Lordship. The next day the same
governor called a meeting of the gentlemen of the royal Audiencia,
his Majesty's fiscal, and all the learned jurists in Manila. They
agreed that this matter could not be settled so long as the protest
did not make its appearance. In accordance with that decision, the
governor wrote the following letter to the archbishop:

"From the time when I went last evening to pay my respects to your
Lordship, I have thought of nothing else excepting how I might manage
to serve you. With that purpose, I had the four advocates of the
royal Audiencia summoned, and others--ecclesiastics, jurists, and
theologians. On meeting them, I set before them my great desire for
peace and for the quiet and comfort of your Lordship. I had them read
the letters that your Lordship wrote me, the efforts that had been
commenced, and the papers given me yesterday by the father readers of
St. Augustine. After discussing them, little credit was given to the
statement of father Fray Pedro de Herrera and to the mandate of father
Fray Antonio Gonsalez; for both of them are accomplices. Moreover,
it was not well for them that the people should see them meddling
in a matter that is so unrighteous and one so unbecoming to their
profession. [I told those who were assembled] that, accordingly, they
should protect these papers, so that neither the mandate of father
Fray Antonio should bind father Fray Diego Collado or any other of
his religious, or the statement of the said father Fray Pedro de
Herrera have any effect. For it was considered also that the latter
had been issued nine days after the incident [of Rueda's arrest]
had occurred; and more especially was noted the obstinacy of father
Fray Diego Collado in refusing to return to your Lordship the paper or
protest that had been made. For these reasons all unanimously, without
one dissenting voice, were of the opinion that your Lordship should
make new and more strenuous efforts to secure and surrender the said
protest on account of the difficulties that so evident