which appears and is evident by the said books to which I refer. That
this may be evident, at the command of the said dean and chapter I
give this present, dated at Manila, on the twenty-eighth day of the
month of June of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine.

_Geronimo de Alcaraz_

The notaries who have below signed their names certify and bear
witness, to whomsoever may see the present paper, that Jeronimo de
Alcaras, by whom this report is signed in this other part, is secretary
of the chapter, acting as vicar-general, and is master of school and
licentiate, and as such entire faith and credit, in and out of court,
is given to the reports and other papers which have passed and shall
pass before him. That this may be apparent, we have given this present
in Manila, on the twenty-eighth of June of the year ninety-nine.

_Francisco de Olavide_, notary to his Majesty.

_Francisco de Valencia_, notary public.

_Joan Paz Dessotomayor_, notary royal.

[_Endorsed_: "Testimony regarding the occasions upon which the
ordinary of the Filipinas Islands has given his permission to the
mendicant religious to found churches and instruct the natives of
those islands."]

Military Affairs in the Islands

_That the Phelippinas Islands are far distant from Espana and Peru,
and in the midst of many enemies; and that they should be annually
supplied with men and arms._ [25]

I. Since these your Majesty's islands are very remote and distant from
Nueva Espana and Peru, and much farther from Castilla, and surrounded
by many large kingdoms inhabited by heathen, who are enemies of our
holy Catholic faith--as, for instance, China, Cochinchina, Camboxa,
Sian, Xapon, Maluco, and many others--to whom the Spanish name and
valor are odious and hateful, and who watch for any opportunity to
compass our injury and destruction, it is important to notice and
guard against any danger or suspicion which may threaten us. For,
by the entry to Manila which the Chinese and Japanese enjoy for
the purposes of trade, and their understandings with the natives,
it may be justly suspected that, allied with the natives of the
land, with whom they are very friendly, they may attempt some great
enterprise. The best defense against that lies in a large force of
Spanish troops. Although your Majesty takes such particular care to
send assistance every year, this camp not only does not continue to
increase, but even is not maintained: first,