n any science, and in this regard he
is not possessed of the qualities that the council of Trent demands,
nor those which the dignity of this church demands, for he is not
a bachelor of arts. He who now exercises that office _ad interim_
is Don Alonso Ramirez Bravo. He has been graduated in both kinds
of law, and is a man of good qualities, who is at present provisor
and vicar-general of this archbishopric. He has had in charge the
bishoprics of Cubu and Camarines. He is a most praiseworthy person,
in whom are found the necessary qualifications. Will your Majesty
grant him the favor of this dignity? for he merits it, and is serving
in it by appointment of the governor of these islands.

Your Majesty orders me by a decree of your Majesty, under date of
March twenty-seven of the year twenty-nine, directed to the archbishop
of this city of Manila--which I received, as I have in charge this
church in the said vacancy--to make investigation regarding the
claims of Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoca, fiscal of
this royal Audiencia, that he has been given a royal decree to act
as protector of the Sangleys, as his predecessors have been. Your
Majesty orders me to ascertain whether a protector is necessary,
whether the Sangleys ask for one, and whether it be advisable that he
should be the fiscal. The relation made in the royal decree, Sire, by
the said Doctor Don Juan de Quesada, is the truth, without adding one
jot to it. What I can say to your Majesty is that the Sangleys need a
protector to defend them; and that they have no defense, as has been
experienced, except when they have had the fiscals as protectors. This
is the reason why they have always been appointed. Often many injuries
and annoyances inflicted on the Sangleys are remedied by the sole
authority of the fiscal, without commencing suit. The Sangleys,
Sire, ask a protector, and ask that he be the fiscal. I have seen
a petition which was presented to the governor of these islands,
Don Juan Nino de Tabora, signed by very many Sangleys, in which they
petition him to give them the said Don Juan de Quesada, the fiscal,
as protector. He has not determined to appoint the latter, because
of the decree that he has received from your Majesty. However, I am
fully persuaded of the great advantage to the Sangleys in having
the fiscal as protector. This is the reason why no other has been
appointed; for the governor says that, in conscience, he finds it very
desirab