these regions, they occupy the whole country. They have in the islands
sixty houses, which contain from two to three religious each--one
hundred and eight being priests, and fifty-three lay brethren. They
will have to establish more houses--not only for the newly-entered
countries, but that there may be sufficient religious instruction
in these islands. For this it is necessary that your Majesty send
each year twenty religious. These might be brought at a less cost
to the royal estate from Nueva Espana, where there are many of them;
and they would do very well, as they are used to instructing Indians,
and have already come half the way.

_St. Francis--40 houses; they have 120 religious, and need 50_. The
Order of St. Francis has occupied the province of Camarines, and has
there forty houses, and one hundred and twenty religious--ninety-seven
being preachers and priests, and twenty-three lay brethren. They need
fifty religious.

_The Society of Jesus has 12 houses and 43 religious_. The Society
has twelve houses, and occupies the province of Pintados, in Leite
and Ibabao. In them are forty-three religious--twenty-three of
these priests, and the rest lay brethren. They will occupy many
houses. Religious of the Society have gone to the pacification of
Mindanao, where they will administer instruction and establish more
houses. They have need of fifty religious.

_St. Dominic--12 houses; they have 71 religious, and need 50_. The
Order of St. Dominic has occupied the province of Cagayan, where
there are twelve houses and seventy-one religious. They need fifty
religious, in order that there may be sufficient instruction in the
province of Cagayan, where they must occupy a number of houses. Those
sent should be priests, because all the lay brethren that are necessary
are being received in the islands.

In all these four orders there are persons of much learning and many
accomplishments, and good linguists who instruct the natives, among
whom they have achieved great results. In the houses of the Society of
Jesus there are two colleges--one at Manila and the other in the city
of Santisimo Nombre de Jhesus--in which religious of very exemplary
life teach Latin to the Spaniards and give instruction to the natives.

_Copy of a letter written in the past year (1598) concerning the
erection of prebends and half-prebends of the cathedral church at
Manila. Cited in clause 7 of the governor's letter of July 12, 1599_.

Sire: