this be decided and examined into in great detail, especially
as concerns justice; it should also be examined to ascertain the
rights of the state. For this purpose, both in this affair and in
other things which are presented before his Majesty's Council, some
one who has great experience in Chinese affairs should be associated
with them, and say what he thinks. The archbishop demands justice,
and an attestation of this petition, and of what may be decreed in
this matter, and of the entire proceedings; and that the decision
may be made at once, so that these Chinese ships may convey the
appropriate answer. As for our reputation, nothing will be lost by
sending back the said Chinese, especially those who are not found
to be very guilty; for no one loses reputation by doing justice, and
the king of China and his ministers know very well that the decision
of justice, and the separation of the innocent from the guilty, in
so grave a case has demanded all the time which has elapsed up to
the present. Finally his Majesty the king, our sovereign, [must be
considered]; what he requires is that this colony, as the chief of
all [his possessions here], where he has established so much good,
should not be placed in danger by other matters which might be of
uncertain success--especially for this consideration, which is of so
little importance. Rather it is fitting to set free these Chinese,
as far as possible, as experience has always proved to us, with so
much cost of our blood, and so great danger of the ruin of this land.

_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila.

At Manila, on the tenth of June, 1605, the lords president and
auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Filipinas
Islands, being in session, this petition was read, and examined by
the said lords. They commanded this petition to be joined with the
ones presented by the Chinese in this matter, and brought to the
session on Monday.

Before me:

_Pedro Nunez de Herrera_, notary royal.

Most potent lord: The archbishop of the Filipinas declares that he
has presented a petition, discussing therein what is demanded on the
part of the king of China in a letter from certain of his ministers,
as is explained more at length in his said petition to which he refers
you. He now says that, of the two things which are demanded, although
the money is a matter of importance to the Chinese, yet what most
grieves them is the men who, as they see, are here in the galleys,