s, a most signal and exemplary chastisement would have followed. But
in these so remote regions, where redress arrives late, it is usual,
and almost necessary for us chaplains of your Majesty and the orders
to suffer these extortions; and if they did not result in detriment
to virtue and to the public welfare, by bearing them patiently we
would not lose, but rather gain much.

Therefore we petition and supplicate your Majesty to examine this
cause with your own eyes, and provide redress for the injuries
received--annulling these acts of violence and rebuking your said
auditors, so that it may serve them as a correction, and others as
an example and warning; and so that the ministers of the gospel and
the orders in these islands may not be annoyed or injured by the
evil example furnished to the newly converted, whereby they would
esteem the ecclesiastical estate and divine worship less. For such
is not the will of your Majesty. In this respect, there is in these
regions a great deficiency in all your officials; consequently the
ecclesiastical class need to have your Majesty renew your decrees
that give injunctions to your agents. By so doing your Majesty will
render a great service to His Divine Majesty, favor to all of us,
and good to these new plants. May God our Lord preserve your Majesty
for years, as we desire, and augment your happy state, as we your
least and unworthy chaplains desire, etc. Given in this convent of
your Majesty, Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, Manila, in 1621.

_Fray Pedro de San Pablo_, minister provincial.
_Fray Agustin de Tordesillas_, [_MS. uncertain_] [19] and definitor.
_Fray Andres del Sacremento_, definitor.
_Fray Antonio de Nombela_, definitor.
_Fray Christoval de Santa Ana_, [20] definitor.

Letter from Fajardo to the King

Sire:

In the ships which left here this year for Nueva Spana I gave your
Majesty a long account of everything which, up to that time, could be
related, or which occurred to me, with duplicates of different letters,
therefore the most that I have to add today is the reception of your
Majesty's letter and your royal decrees. I have not done this before as
I had not sufficient leisure to examine them, or do so in the interval
allowed by the season. What I have to say at present concerning their
contents is, that I shall act in all respects, and carry out what your
Majesty orders therein, according to my ability, and as best I can,
and as is most expedi