he occupation of Formosa be abandoned. Corcuera
has formed and armed companies of natives to resist the Moro pirates,
and has done much to improve the efficiency of both his military and
naval forces. He complains that the friars are disobedient and unruly,
but commends the obedience and good-will of the secular clergy. The
natives of the islands cannot endure the burdens imposed upon them
by the construction of ships; and the governor asks that vessels may
be sent thither from Peru, to meet this difficulty.

A group of papers regarding the hospitals of Manila is dated
July-August, 1636. Governor Corcuera writes to the king regarding the
conduct of these institutions. The expenses therein are too great;
and Corcuera has levied an assessment on the pay of the officers
and soldiers, to aid the hospital fund. He finds mismanagement in
the royal hospitals, and dismisses from their charge the Franciscan
brothers who have administered their affairs. He recommends that
they be placed in the care of the hospital order of St. John of God,
and of secular officials. He has established a hospital at Cavite,
supported mainly by assessments on the sailors and workmen there;
and a convalescent ward in the hospital for Spaniards at Manila. Then
follow the comments on Corcuera's suggestions, made by the royal
Council, approving some, and criticising others; the act issued by
the governor for the establishment of the aforesaid convalescent ward,
to which he assigns an encomienda of Indians; and a statement of the
amounts contributed for the hospital fund by each of the companies
and garrisons in the islands, with official attestations, etc.

The Editors

May, 1905.

DOCUMENTS OF 1636

The nuns of St. Clare at Manila. Miguel Perez, O.S.F., and others;
1635-36.
Relation of 1635-36. [Unsigned; Manila?]; June.
Letters to Felipe IV. Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera; June 30.
Letter to Father Felipe de Cardenas. Cristobal de Lara, S.J.;
July 3.
Letter to Felipe IV. Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera; July 11.
Hospitals and hospital contributions. Sebastian Hurtado de
Corcuera, and others; July-August.

Sources: All but two of these documents are obtained from MSS. in
the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. The second and fourth are
from MSS. in the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid.

Translations: The first, third, and sixth are translated by James
A. Robertson; the second and fourth,