that may be needed, from the royal hospital which your
Majesty has in the city of Manila. Thereby will they receive a very
generous alms, and your Majesty, as patron (as is the case) of that
convent, ought to concede them that favor, since they are so poor.

[_Endorsed:_ "June 13, 636. Have the warrants here mentioned paid
in the subsidy allotted to those sisters, and let it be paid in
their sacristy and place. In regard to the alms that they request,
have the governor notified to aid those nuns with all manner of care
and attention; and, as they are so needy, to aid them with goods and
spare articles that shall not be taken from his Majesty's treasury." "I
received the authorization.

Fray Miguel Peres Corvera"]

_Petition of the abbess_

Sire:

The abbess and nuns of the convent of St. Clare of the city of Manila
declare that his Majesty, King Don Phelipe Second, ordered that
convent to be founded, and your Majesty is patron of it. That convent,
following the rule of the glorious St. Francis, has no income, but is
sustained by the alms given to it by devout persons. Benefactors of
the said convent--among them Captain Gaspar Mendes, treasurer of the
said convent--have given certain pay-warrants which amount to about
six or seven thousand pesos, in order that with it the said nuns may
attend to some necessary works in the said house (and especially in the
church), of which they are greatly in need. In consideration of that,
the said abbess petitions and beseeches your Majesty, since this is so
proper a work, to order the governor and royal officials to pay the
said warrants above mentioned, for the said purpose; and those nuns
will receive that as a special alms from your Majesty's royal hand.

[_Endorsed:_ "April 16, 636. Let her present the warrants of which
she speaks, and let her declare whence they proceed."]

Don Juan Grau, who is the person who is attending to this matter,
declares that, according to the knowledge of it which he possesses,
these warrants have not been sent to him; and that those which are
cited in the memorial were given by soldiers from their pay, and by
other persons which proceed from the same source. They have done it in
their zeal to see so holy a work progress, as the need of those nuns
is so great, and their institute so poor, since they cannot possess
incomes. Consequently, they live solely on the alms given to them by
devout persons.

Don Juan Grau y Monfalcon