on law, to proceed
to the visit for the reformation of all the missionaries, both seculars
and regulars, you shall endeavor to relieve your conscience and mine."

Consequently, neither of us will by any means satisfy our obligations,
if we neglect to carry out the commands of his Holiness and of his
Majesty in this regard, so that we may report to his Majesty in the
first ships that his royal will has been fulfilled.

From the above, and from the jurisdiction and authority conceded
to the bishops over their sheep by the sacred canons, councils, and
briefs of the holy apostolic see, it is manifest with what want of
reason and foundation has been the assertion and declaration made
three or four times by Father Pedro de San Pablo, provincial of the
Order of St. Francis, in the royal courts about one month ago, while
reporting a suit of the fiscals of the missions of the Indians--namely,
that the provincials of the orders of these islands, and the regular
ministers of the Yndias, had more jurisdiction and power, by virtue
of their privileges, over the Indians in regard to matters concerning
the ministry of their missions than had the bishops and archbishops
in whose dioceses the said missions are located. That appears to be
a universal sentiment and practice of the said religious, by what we
have experienced in the course of the visitation to the Indians of
our archbishopric that we have as yet made. Given in Manila, March
twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [16]

_Fray Miguel_, archbishop.

[On April two and three, Don Gabriel de Mujica, the archbishopric's
secretary, delivered in person a similar copy of the above
notifications to [each of] the fathers-provincial--namely, Fray Juan
Henrriquez, Augustinian; Fray Miguel Ruiz, Dominican; Fray Cristobal
de Santa Ana, commissary visitor of St. Francis. On June 20, the
archbishop began his visits through the parish of Dilao, causing an
edict of the following tenor to be published from the pulpit during
high mass.]

We, Don Fray Diego Garcia Serrano, by the grace of God and the
holy apostolic see, archbishop of the Philipinas, member of his
Majesty's council, etc.: To you, the faithful Christians, citizens,
dwellers, residents, and inhabitants of the village of Dilao, which
is administered by the Order of St. Francis, of whatever state, rank,
and preeminence you may be, greeting in our Lord Jesus Christ. We
cause you to know that the holy fathers, inspire