d for the coming of
the letters. As for himself, the archbishop persisted in his claim,
which was explained to your Majesty in writing on the fourth of May,
614, and the second of August, 615. He considers himself of no use
in the government of his church, as he is more than seventy years of
age, with many infirmities; and he is anxious over the failure that
gives cause for regarding him as remiss, and the fact that he can not
fulfil his obligations, nor make easy the conscience of your Majesty,
and is burdening his own. As a result of this his jurisdiction is
becoming every day less; and owing to his inability to punish them,
and take needful measures, there is cause to fear that there may be
increase of certain sins. It is but right that this should be remedied
in due time, by sending a successor. Again he beseeches your Majesty
to appoint one, so that he may continue to fulfil the obligations of
that office; and that, for his own support, he be left two thousand
of the three thousand ducados which your Majesty has commanded to
be given him. In the letters from the religious orders of these
islands it is evident how fitting and just it is to concede to the
archbishop what he asks. Having considered and examined into this,
the Council is of the same opinion as in the said advice of 613;
and thinks that your Majesty, conformably thereto, may consider it
desirable to ask his Holiness to grant the archbishop a coadjutor with
the future succession, who will be given a third of the stipend of that
archbishopric--namely, one thousand ducados--besides the occasional
fees and the visitation of the archbishopric, leaving to the archbishop
the other two-thirds. It should be through a coadjutorship, because
in this form it appears more suitable, and in accordance with the
petition he makes, and with the customary action in similar cases. If
your Majesty be pleased to approve, persons in that region and in the
archbishopric will be considered in regard to the qualifications that
are required for that church. Madrid, the first of July, 616.

LETTER FROM LEDESMA TO FELIPE III

_Abstract of a letter from the provincial of the Society of Jesus,
Valerio de Ledesma, to the king, informing him of the condition of
the Filipinas Islands._ [69]

In this letter Father Valerio made complaint to the king that the
condition of the country was most unhappy and unfortunate, and
resembled a sick man in the throes of death. He declared tha