that the
collection of one and one-half per cent imposed on money coming to
this land be discontinued; and, in order that the Chinese might bring
us an abundance of supplies, with horses and cattle, as they had begun
to do, it is decreed that no duties be imposed on the grain, biscuit,
flour, and all other provisions brought by them, in order to encourage
them to provide this land abundantly with these supplies. Moreover,
besides the above reason, the amount collected from this source for
your Majesty is very small. Your Majesty will order what you shall
be pleased to have done in this matter.

Section 9. [50] By virtue of a royal decree of your Majesty, the bishop
added another parish priest to the benefice of this cathedral church,
so that there are now two priests and a sacristan. Orders have been
given that their salaries shall be paid from the royal exchequer,
in conformity with another royal decree lessening the amount to be
secured from the tithes.

Section 10. Your Majesty ordered a royal decree to be issued,
commanding us to send a report on the recommendation made by the bishop
of these islands, that it is expedient that a brief be procured from
his Holiness, in order that the authority which he granted to the
bishop in the _foro interior_ for twelve years be also granted to
him in the _foro esterior_. [51] Since this concession has been made
by other pontiffs to the religious of the mendicant orders, the claim
made by the bishop has seemed to us both fitting and necessary--as also
that the grant be made for several years more, because eight of the
twelve years have elapsed. Since the orders possess this authority,
it is just that the bishop shall not remain without it, because cases
arise in the _foro esterior_, which, although they should go to the
apostolic see, fail to go, on account of the great difficulty and
length of the journey between here and Rome; and thus penitents might
not secure absolution, or would be unable to fulfil the obligations
that they owe to their consciences. And, if your Majesty be pleased
to order that this brief be obtained, it is our opinion that the same
authority be conferred, _tan in absolvendo quam in dispensando_.

Section 11. Your Majesty commanded your royal decree to be issued,
ordering that the hundred pesos and hundred fanegas of rice which
are given annually as alms to the religious, besides the wine for
the saying of mass, and flour for the host, be given them. Th