o if they go thither, as I hope they will.

There are better opportunities for the friars to distribute themselves
from Macan, for the preaching of the gospel, than from any other
place--especially too, as the said journey is no less short and
safe by this route than by Nueba Espana; for it is quite certain
that the religious may not remain in any place where they are not
greatly needed, or where they may not produce much fruit among
infidel heathen. Herein there is need of a decree to the effect
that neither the viceroy nor the archbishop of India, nor any other
authorities whatsoever, ecclesiastical or secular, shall hinder the
said religious from making any journey or from asking alms; but that
they shall give the said religious every aid and protection, in order
that they may go from India to Malaca, and from Malaca to Macan,
and from Macan to whatever place their superiors may order. Still
another decree is needed, that the said religious or any others of
our order may, provided that they have instructions to that effect
from their superiors, freely build monasteries in remote and infidel
lands--without awaiting mandate, order, or permission from the viceroy
or archbishop of India, or from other authorities. This requirement is
very inconvenient and a hindrance, inasmuch as in many of those places
it is not possible to go for and return with the said permission within
the space of a year--during which time it may well happen that the
opportunity would be lost, and with it the fruit which it might bear.

Another decree is also needful in order that the governor and the
Audiencia of Manila, the bishop or any other person, may not cause
hindrance or opposition to the provincial of our order by sending
religious at will to countries of China or other infidel lands,
as seems best to him for the service of God; for the instruction
in the faith, which the religious have established in the islands,
is sustained at their charge.

This our community begs and entreats from his Majesty, at this time;
and for this purpose they have sent to these lands of Espana a native
religious, named Fray Jhoan de Vascones, interpreter and minister of
these districts.

Fray Jhoan de Vascones [19]

[Endorsed: "The Augustinians of the Filipinas. Council General of
the Indias."]

History of the Great Kingdom of China

Compiled by Father Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza. Madrid: Printed by Pedro
Madrigal, in the year 1586.

Source: A co