eased to command that he be delivered to
the alcaldes.

I ordered Diego Ronquillo, the former governor of these islands, to
present himself at the royal criminal court at Madrid, to account
to his Majesty for the large sum of money that had been delivered
to him as the executor and trustee of Don Goncalo Ronquillo. [13]
He is escorted by an alguazil to the royal prison of that Audiencia,
so that, in case sufficient bonds are not given at his presentation
in the criminal court of his Majesty, he may be held a prisoner, in
accordance with the said residencia, which I am sending. I beg your
illustrious Lordship to command that these arrangements be carried out.

Juan Martin Coyfino will, I believe, escort these prisoners; and,
as he is a very zealous man, I have recommended that he take with
him the Sangley religious. [14] I entreat your illustrious Lordship
to see that his companion is rewarded, also to order the payment
of their expenses. May our Lord watch over the illustrious person
of your Lordship and may the prosperity of your house increase as
we your servants desire. Manila, June 20, 1585. Illustrious Lord,
your servant and client kisses the hands of your illustrious Lordship.

Doctor Santiago de Vera [15]

Two Letters to Felipe II

With regard to the letters of Fray Joan de Plasencia, custodian
of the descalced friars of the custodia of San Gregorio de las
Philippinas--communicated to me by the secretary, Joan de Ledesma,
in pursuance of an order by the council--I declare that the truth
is that Fray Joan [16] de Talabera, commissary of the same descalced
friars, who went from here, took a commission from the nuncio (quite
contrary to the custom among religious orders), from which no benefit
has resulted. Accordingly, although the said commission is clearly an
affair of no value in law, the office of the grantor having expired,
yet since those religious are very scrupulous, and have but little
knowledge of this matter, it might be well that the present nuncio
revoke the commission, and that the said custodia be governed by the
authority of the order, as are all the other provinces of our order.

Hitherto the province of San Josepe [in Mexico], of the descalced
friars from Castilla, has had charge of that custodia, by apostolic
brief; and it was not subject to me, nor might I send friars thither or
remove them. But when the said province considered how inadequately it
could govern the custodia, the b