ought, and in conformity with law, in order
that his Majesty may present for the said bishopric whomsoever he
shall please; and he accepted, and does accept, in such form as is
authorized and required by law, the archbishopric of Manila; and he
took, and does take when necessary, the duties and obligations thereof,
and its government upon his shoulders, corporally and spiritually, in
order to administer them conformably to the requirements of canonical
law. And as he makes the said resignation and the said acceptance, he
desires me, the present notary, to make public declaration thereof in
due form, and asks that those present shall witness and sign it. The
witnesses are: The father provincial of the Order of St. Dominic,
Fray Juan de Santo Tomas; the father Fray Juan Bautista, guardian of
the said Order; and the father Fray Pedro de San Vicente, vicar of
the Christian Chinese.

_Fray Miguel_, bishop of Nueba Segovia.

I, Benito de Mendiola, apostolic notary. By the apostolic authority
of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in this archbishopric, I was
present with the other witnesses at the above notarial act, and at
the end affix my signature, in testimony of the truth thereof.

_Benito de Mendiola_, apostolic notary.

We, the undersigned, do hereby certify and declare that Benito de
Mendiola who has sealed and signed this instrument, is the notary
of the Holy Office in this archbishopric, and exercises his office
of apostolic notary for any documents which may be presented to
him. Therefore entire faith and credit must be given to all documents
which have passed or do pass before him in or out of court. That this
may be evident, we give the present; at Manila, on the fourth of July
in the year one thousand six hundred and three.

_Fernando de Alanis_, public notary.

_Francisco de Valante_, public notary.

_Jhoan Fernandez de Aparicio_, public notary.

LETTERS FROM BENAVIDES TO FELIPE III

Sire:

I arrived in this city of Manila, having accepted the favor, so signal,
which your Majesty has conferred upon this his most insignificant
vassal and servant, by the royal decree of your Majesty; this was
presented to the dean and chapter of this church, who complied with
it promptly, and delivered to me the government, in which I am now
installed.

I find this city and country in so afflicted and ruined a condition,
and the minds of many of the Spaniards, including the principal ones
here, so anxious, and d