ssors take their residencias,
they accommodate one another, and the Indians dare not speak. Other
persons, more shrewd, even say that they will make any claims during
the residencias, since that is of no use except to point out the
way to robbery which the predecessor trod, so that the successor may
follow him. These things have always caused me grief; but now that
I have these souls in charge it weighs upon me much to see these
evils and the little redress which comes, Sire, from your Majesty's
powerful hand. I seek from your Majesty no more show of authority for
the correction of these evils than belongs to me by right of office,
in order to make no display of ambition; for even in matters which
belong properly to my office I feel that my powers are very limited
and not at all adequate to its demands. But I hope in the Lord that He
will inspire in the heart of your Majesty a desire to introduce some
effective remedy sufficient for these evils, since their character
is self-evident. Manila, July 5, 1603.

_Fray Miguel_, archbishop elect of Manila.

Sire:

I have written another more detailed letter to your Majesty, and in
this I shall give a brief account of several matters that should be
set right. I express the desire for this under a greater sense of
obligation, and the more confidently, because your Majesty has so
considered this minister, vassal, and servant of yours in appointing
me archbishop of this city--which appointment I have received, and
have delivered to the chapter of the church your Majesty's letter to
that effect and announcing that I had been given the government of it,
and its occupancy.

This city and these islands are most poverty-stricken, and harassed by
a thousand troubles from heaven--what with the fires, and the enemies,
and (worst of all) our own friends and brothers, the vassals of your
Majesty. The people from Mexico have borne down on this unfortunate
country this year, in a very inundation. To repair the ruin which the
Mexicans and Peruvians are bringing upon us, and in order to discover
and rid ourselves of those here who are in partnership with them, the
cabildo of this city, through their procurator, presented me with a
petition asking me for this purpose to excommunicate such persons. I,
who hold the name of excommunication in great awe, when it is placed
generally upon this land (where there is not so much fear of God as in
Espana), did not grant the excommunication; bu