seventy Spaniards; the Augustinians instruct
fifty-eight thousand, and the Dominicans seventy thousand, Indian
natives. The bishopric of Camarines (in eastern Luzon) has only some
fifty Spaniards; eight thousand six hundred natives are cared for
by secular priests, forty-five thousand by Franciscans, and three
thousand two hundred by Jesuits. The total number of souls of natives
under religious instruction in the islands amounts to over half a
million--apparently not counting therein the children. But the great
number of Indians still unconverted demands many more missionaries,
whom the king is urged to send. The archbishop gives some account
of the hospitals and their management; he recommends that they be
placed in care of the hospital order of St. John of God. He also
enumerates the various religious and benevolent confraternities
in Manila, with their purposes and revenues; of these the chief is
that of La Misericordia. Serrano describes the character and present
condition of the two colleges in Manila, San Jose and Santo Tomas,
and of the seminary for girls, Santa Potenciana; for the former he
requests faculty for granting decrees to their students, and for
the latter substantial pecuniary aid. He states that, in general,
the Indians are well treated by their religious teachers; but he
recommends that more power over these ministers be given to the
Philippine bishops. The constant menace of the islands by the Dutch
enemy, however, lays cruel burdens upon the Indians, in ship-building
and in other preparations for war which they are compelled to make
by the royal officials. Serrano closes by answering certain questions
about prebends, curacies, etc.

A royal decree (December 31, 1622) orders the Dominicans in the
Philippines not to meddle in affairs of government. Another of the
same date confirms and enforces a previous decree (1603) of Felipe II,
ordering that all religious who are missionaries to the Indians be
examined as to their competency for such work, especially in their
knowledge of the native language, by the archbishop or some person
appointed by him. A letter from the king (October 9, 1623) directs
Fajardo to push the exploration of the Igorrote mining region, and
to send nutmeg from the islands to Nueva Espana. Various matters
mentioned by the governor receive perfunctory and formal answers. On
November 27 following, Felipe IV confirms the permission given by the
governor and archbishop to the Domini