only with what rulings the government makes. This
royal Audiencia has only three advocates--or four, counting Doctor
Ledo, who is at present serving as your Majesty's fiscal. I have
appointed Doctor Luis Arias de Mora, who is the senior, and a person
of excellent abilities, to attend to this matter until your Majesty
shall order otherwise. Licentiate Nicolas Antonio de Omana is also a
good person, as is Licentiate Manuel Suarez de Olibera, who is serving
as auditor-general and my assessor. I have assigned two hundred pesos
additional salary to the eight hundred of the protectorship to Don
Luis Arias de Mora; for, in addition to exercising this office, he is
the archbishop's counselor. Therefore he despatches and performs what
pertains to him in ecclesiastical matters, without meddling with the
royal patronage and jurisdiction of your Majesty, as the archbishop has
tried to do hitherto. By that means I think that the archbishop will
be quiet, and we shall be able to live in peace. Doctor Luis Arias is
a person who merits honor from your Majesty by giving him this charge,
in which he will be excellently employed. May our Lord preserve your
Majesty's Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila,
the last of June, 1636. Sire, your vassal kisses your Majesty's feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[_Endorsed:_ "January 8, 637. Have him notified to observe the
ordinance of November 22, 636, so that he may avoid new expenses of
the treasury, and that no more salary be given than what is ordered."]

_Encomiendas_

Sire:

Your Majesty has ordered that when persons who have been given
encomiendas, and who have served in the islands, leave them, their
encomiendas fall vacant, in order that they may be given to the most
deserving who remain. Some persons have been able to negotiate and to
obtain from your Majesty the favor and grace of being able to enjoy
them for ten years, even though they live in Nueva Espana. Such are
the adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, whose services and those
of his father well deserve that honor and reward from your Majesty;
also Don Fernando de Silva, of the Order of Santiago, who, because of
the death of Don Alonso Faxardo, governed these islands with general
approbation, and has served your Majesty for many years in the States
of Flandes with the same approbation. Besides these, there are three
others to whom your Majesty has granted the same favor, namely: Don
Andres Perez Franco,