r and father, ruled, ordered, and commanded in
their royal patronage. And most certain can your Majesty be that there
have always been and there are now men worthy, capable, and of great
talents, from whom much may be expected, both in this cabildo and in
the orders--especially that of St. Dominic and that of St. Francis;
but, since they do not try to obtain the prebendaries of this church,
never will their affairs be known, nor will any of them ever be seen
in that royal court, for neither can they go, nor do they possess the
wherewithal to send. These arguments will have greater force and power
in the future, because of the two universities which your Majesty
has permitted in this city--one in the residence of the Society of
Jesus, and the other in that of Santo Tomas of the Dominican friars,
where students are being trained and many graduated. Thus this city
is today full of poverty-stricken seculars, and one must fear that
there will be so many within a few years that they will die of hunger,
because we have not any benefices to give them in this archbishopric
or throughout the islands; for these are held by friars, who cost your
Majesty so dearly. It is very desirable to refrain from sending many
of the religious who come from Espana, which is an argument worthy
of much consideration. [_In the margin_: "That great care will be
given to this point when vacancies occur in those churches."]

The need and poverty of this metropolitan church is known and
notorious, for it has no income or revenue other than the concessions
of your Majesty, especially the four hundred pesos that have been
given thus far, by means of which the church is kept in wine, wax, and
oil. For none of those things are given from the royal warehouses, as
they are to the other convents of this city. Consequently, we petition
your Majesty to continue that concession, for it is not a perpetual
concession, but was only for four or six years; and, when that time
expired, it was conceded for another term of four or six years. If it
were made perpetual, your Majesty would be making it a more valuable
concession; for at each prolongation of the time it is necessary to
spend at least one hundred pesos with the agent who is sent from here
to that court. Thus that amount would be saved, and that is a matter
of consideration and importance to so poor a church. [_In the margin_:
"See what is provided in regard to this." "The concession was made."]

This church