o it, if influence be brought to bear upon the superiors
of both orders, so that they may secure agreement between the orders.

The constable of Castilla said that for the present he would not change
the order which was given that religious friars should not go from
the Filipinas to Japon, and he would only consider the revocation of
the brief in which they were prohibited from going by any other route
than that by Yndia; because that was nothing else than an attempt
of the Council of Portugal to tie your Majesty's hands with the
authority of the Pope, and tacitly to exclude the Castilian religious
from going there. It is expedient that your Majesty should have this
matter at your own disposal, to send them when and by what route is
expedient. This would serve as a check, so that those of the Society
would take great care as to what they do. It would also be desirable
to urge, through the Council of Portugal, that those fathers should
enjoy no trade or profit; and to prohibit totally the trade of the
Filipinas with Japon. In this way the suspicions and apprehensions
of both parties would cease, and by this means your Majesty might be
better informed, and by impartial persons, and time would show what
was most expedient. Your Majesty will have this examined, and take
measures according to your pleasure. Madrid, December 20, 1607.

[_Endorsed, in the hand of the king_: "I am advised concerning all this
that I may decree, by one way or another, what is most suitable. Write
today secretly to the Marques de Aytona that he shall ask the Pope in
my name for the revocation of the order of which mention is here made;
and that he shall order another one despatched, leaving to my choice to
send the religious who are to go to preach, by the route which appears
best to me according to the state of affairs; and charge the Marques
to have this despatch sent immediately, as secretly as possible."]

DOCUMENTS OF 1608-09

Annual receipts and expenditures of the Philippine
government. Pedro de Caldierva de Mariaca; August 18, 1608.
Decrees regarding way-station for Philippine vessels. Felipe III;
September 27, 1608, and May 13, 1609.
Letters to Juan de Silva. Felipe III; May 26 and July 29, 1609.
Expeditions to the province of Tuy. Juan Manuel de la Vega;
July 3, 1609.
Petition of a Filipino chief for redress. Miguel Banal; July
25, 1609.
Despatch of missionaries to the Philippines. Diego