dians; and whether there were any religious of
their faction who were qualified to be preachers in this convent of
Manila and in other Spanish towns and convents; whether there were
any such religious capable of teaching arts and theology (both moral
and scholastic), or of deciding the difficult questions that are
wont to arise regarding the administration of the sacraments in the
provinces. The fathers of Castilla stated that, when the truth of these
matters should be ascertained, they were ready to make concessions,
without the necessity of a formal investigation; and that in matters
where there was any doubt, they would have the religious appear before
his Lordship [the archbishop], so that before him and the professors
of the two universities of this city, or before the superiors of the
religious orders, they might be examined by the official examiners of
this province, and their qualifications be made evident. They have
made no reply to this request, and we fear that the archbishop will
not oblige them to answer it--inasmuch as in the number of the said
eighteen religious not eight will be found who can in strictness be
considered qualified to hold an office _cum cura animorum_ [_i.e._,
"with the care of souls"], and not one for positions as professors
or preachers in this city of Manila, while only two are well versed
in cases of conscience.

The affair remains in this condition, and we do not know how it will
end; for in this country justice and law do not secure, to one who
seeks justice, the attainment of his object. Done at this convent of
St. Augustine in Manila, on the tenth of September, in the year one
thousand six hundred and thirty-seven.

Fray Juan Ramirez, provincial.
Fray Cristobal de Miranda, definitor.
Fray Geronimo de Medrano
Fray Alonso de Carabajal
Fray Juan de Montemayor
Fray Manuel de Errasti

CORCUERA'S CAMPAIGN IN JOLO

In my last letter I wrote to your Reverence of the result of the first
attack--which was unfortunate, because the Moros repulsed us, as I told
your Reverence. Not less unfortunate will be the news that I shall
now relate, [16] which it is yet necessary for me to tell, in order
to fulfil my duty and to remove the clouds arising from rumors and
letters that will go there. I am here and see everything; and there is
never a lack of those who tell many new things, and exaggerate matters
that are not so great as they will relate and descant there, where
no one