m them of my
claims to justice. Also in the meanwhile will you order the fathers
not to molest me in the ancient possession that I have inherited from
my fathers and grandfathers, who were chiefs of the said village. I
trust in the royal clemency and exceedingly great Christian spirit of
your Majesty that I shall be protected and defended in what should
have justice. This I petition from your royal person, whom may our
Lord preserve during many happy years, for the protection of these
poor Indians, your Majesty's loyal vassals, and for the increase of
this new Christian community. From Quiapo; July 25, 1609.

The useless slave of your royal Majesty,

_Don Miguel Banal_

[_Endorsed_: "Have the governor and the Audiencia investigate, and
in the meanwhile provide suitable measures."]

Despatch of Missionaries to the Philippines

_Information by father Fray Diego Aduarte, concerning the journey
that he made in the year 1605 from Spana to the Philipinas, with 38
religious of his order; and, further, that made by father Fray Gabriel
de San Antonio in the year 1008; and, further, what is necessary that
there should not be failures in such journeys_.

By command of Senor Don Luis de Belasco, viceroy of this country
of Nueva Spana, in compliance with a clause of a letter from his
Majesty--whereby he was commanded to advise his Majesty of the
religious who, going under his orders to the Philipinas, have remained
here, and what was the occasion of it; and in particular of those who
remained of my company, two years ago--I, Diego Aduarte, declare as
follows, having come as his vicar; and I call God to witness that in
all I tell the truth.

In the month of July of 1605 I sailed from Spana, with thirty-eight
religious of my order, whom I was empowered by his Majesty's decrees
to convey thither; and none were lacking. Among these there were only
four lay brethren; and of the rest, who were priests (they being the
majority), all except one were preachers and confessors; and those who
were not such had studied sufficiently to be ordained as priests for
mass--as all of them now are, and actual ministers, who preach and
hear confessions in various languages which they have learned, much
to the service of God and the increase of His church. I arrived in
this country of Nueva Spana with all the said thirty-eight religious,
where two of my priests died. One of them was named Fray Dionisio
de Rueda, who had come from Valencia,