to
pay six hundred pesos for the hire of a house.

The fathers of the Society claim that your Majesty should give
them a university for these islands. This your Majesty should not
do, unless you grant the same to all the orders and the secular
clergy as well. This is especially true now, among these intrusive
machinations. If your Majesty were pleased to entrust to me the
regulating of these matters I should endeavor to do so. Still less
should the claim of the said fathers of the Society be granted, nor can
it, in conscience, be allowed, that they appropriate for themselves,
on the plea of using them for these chairs [of instruction], certain
revenues from the funds left here by some of the old soldiers as
restitutions to the Indians. With these moneys great good has been
done for the poor Indians--now redeeming captives from those who carry
them away to sell them among the Moros and other infidels, where they
lose the faith; again, aiding them in their sickness, and famines,
and the like. Indeed, I am unable to comprehend the consciences
of men who would attempt to take this money from the poor Indians,
and put an end to so good works. May God grant His light to us all.

It has been reported here that your Majesty, or your royal person,
is being consulted in regard to the religious going to Japon by
way of India. For the relief of my conscience, knowing so much as I
do of this, I must say that those who propose such a thing either
know nothing of affairs here; or else they know a great deal, and
are talking very artfully in the matter, and for the sake of this
country intend that the religious should not enter Japon; at any
rate, saying that the religious must go through India to preach in
Japon is the same as saying that they shall not go to Japon. Sire,
the clear and evident truth is that by way of India there is little or
no thought of preaching or conversion. Let none deceive your Majesty,
our king and lord; for they are gravely in the wrong who would deceive
you and not tell you the truth sincerely. Manila, July 6, 1603.

_Fray Miguel_,
bishop and archbishop elect of Manila.

LETTERS TO FELIPE III

Letter from the Audiencia of Manila

Sire:

With the letter which your Majesty graciously sent to this Audiencia
informing it of the fortunate birth of the most serene infanta [26]
our lady, we have received the great satisfaction which should be
experienced by all the vassals of your Majesty. Since so