s,
and how they are supplied and equipped, with both men and artillery,
and with all else necessary; until I may give a different order; as
such is my will. These presents will be registered by my auditors
of accounts who are in my Council of the Yndias. Dated at Madrid,
the nineteenth of December of the year 1611.

_I The King_

By command of the king our lord:
_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_
Signed by the Council of War for the Yndias.

LETTERS TO THE DOMINICAN PROVINCIAL

_To the provincial of the Order of St. Dominic for the Philipinas,
directing him to apply to certain actions of the religious thereof,
the correction which he ought and is bound to apply, maintaining
friendly relations with the governor._

The King: To the venerable and devout father provincial of the Order
of St. Dominic for the Philipinas Islands. By a letter from Don Juan
de Silva, my governor and captain-general there, of the fifth of
September, 610, I have learned that several religious of your order,
from various motives, usually oppose the things that are ordered
for the sake of good government. At times this has gone so far that
incidents such as to cause anxiety have occurred. Such was the case
in Nueva Segovia, regarding the Indian whom the alcalde-mayor held
prisoner, on appeal condemned to death by the Audiencia, who had
ordered the sentence to be executed there. When the day before the
execution arrived two friars went to the prison, saying that they were
going to confess him. They succeeded in being left alone with the
prisoner in a room with a window opening on the street; and, having
provided some one to take him to their convent, they thrust him out of
the window, without the knowledge of the persons about the building,
which resulted in a very scandalous affair. The alcalde-mayor, on
learning of it, went to the convent to get possession of the prisoner;
and found that for his greater security they had placed him upon the
altar--which, as may be seen, was an improper action. When he attempted
to take away the prisoner, the friars treated the alcalde-mayor very
scurvily; and when he had removed the Indian they proceeded against
him with censures and interdicts, in such wise that he had to return
to the church, unpunished, the man whom they themselves had delivered
up, when he was seized--demanding his death, and saying that it
was best to execute him there as an example for all. Although it is
understood that you made the pr