with all respect for the better judgment of others, is our
opinion regarding the matter proposed to us by your Lordship,
with command to declare our views. This we do, recommending always
moderation and Christian charity, which should ever be practiced,
and especially in dealing with this people--who, as we have said, do
not realize the gravity of their offense; and on whom, therefore,
the penalties of the law ought not to be inflicted in all its
rigor. And, to signify that this is our judgment, we confirm it with
our names. Given at San Augustin de Manila, the nineteenth day of
January, 1592.

_Fray Joan de Valderrama_, provincial
_Fray Alonzo de Castro_, definitor
_Fray Lorenso de Leon_, definitor
_Fray Joan de Tamayo_, prior
_Fray Antonio Serrano_, prior
_Fray Diego Gutierrez_
_Fray Diego Munoz_
_Fray Diego Alvarez_
_Fray Alonso de Montalvan_, superior
_Fray Matthias Manrique_
_Fray Alonso de Paz_ [32]

[_Endorsed_: "Opinion of the Augustinian fathers regarding the
Cambales." "Opinion of the Augustinian fathers upon waging war against
the Zambales."]

Opinion of the Dominicans

_Jesus_

Admitting the information received against the Negrillos and certain
Zambales, who commit assaults; and admitting (what is generally
known) the murders committed daily, both past and present, and which
have not been committed in their just defense or in just revenge
for injuries--as is evident because indeed the Batanes, Panpangos,
Pangasinanes, and Ylocos (and these last are the worst sufferers) were
at peace with them, and, since that peace, neither the Panpangos nor
the others have disturbed them in their villages or on the highways,
but, on the contrary, have tried to preserve friendly relations; and
admitting (likewise a well-known fact) the custom of this race from the
earliest period of killing, whenever possible, Spaniards and Indians,
without any distinction, and without having received any injuries,
for the sole purpose of proving their courage by their ability to
kill men, collecting heads and hanging them up in their houses, as
such proof; _item_, admitting one other certain fundamental, that no
incursion has been made into their lands for the sake of provoking
them in their common habitation, but that they, on the other hand,
invade, from their lands, the royal open highways and the settlements
of the peaceful natives, in order to kill those who are living in
peace with them, and with all: we rende