he said father provincial, the prior, and the commissary, authorize
the justices who can and ought to try this cause, so that they may
compel and force all on whom falls the fulfilment of this instrument
to observe it, as if they were condemned thereto by the definitive
sentence of a competent judge, rendered in a case decided. We renounce
whatever laws and rights plead in our favor, and in this case, and the
law and rule of law that says that a general renunciation of laws is
invalid. This is given in the said city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth
day of the month of April of the year one thousand six hundred and
eleven. The grantors, whom, I, the notary, testify to be known to me,
signed this instrument--Captains Diego de Valdez, Geronimo de Gamarra,
and Melchor de Ayllon, all citizens of Manila, being witnesses.

_Fray Baltasar Fort_, prior provincial.
_Fray Francisco Minayo_, prior.
_Fray Bernardo de Santa Catalina_
Before me:
_Juan Illan_. his Majesty's notary.

THE HOSPITAL AT NUEVA CACERES

Sire:

In the city of Caceres there is a hospital where the religious of
St. Francis attend with much charity to the treatment of the sick,
Spaniards as well as natives. It is very poor, and on the verge
of ruin. May your Majesty be pleased to extend to it some alms,
to erect another building for it, and provide it with some income,
that it may aid in the maintenance of the sick who are being treated
in it, particularly the natives, who suffer great want on account of
having no income. The city furnishes very little to the aid of the
said hospital, because the citizens are few and poor. Accordingly,
I know of no other remedy but to have recourse to your Majesty, that,
as you are so Catholic a king and a patron of all the churches and
hospitals of these islands, you may supply this need, and give them
the aid which may appear most fitting to your Majesty, particularly in
the case of this hospital, which suffers such dire need. Although I am
desirous of alleviating this, I cannot, as I also am poor. Accordingly
I beg and beseech your Majesty to have pity upon it and aid it, and
give it what your Majesty may judge sufficient. It seems to me that
your Majesty might order the governor of these islands to assign some
of the Indians from vacant encomiendas, to apply to this purpose,
and give to this hospital to aid it. In this your Majesty will do a
great service to our Lord, and a very gracious favor and good to the
sa