e thousand or one thousand five hundred pesos. The tariff
of fees is appraised by the Audiencia, of which I also send a copy to
that said royal Council. I petition your Majesty that it be examined
in that royal Council, so that the military department may have a
defense on its part, and so that its rights of preeminence may be kept.

There has also arisen a quarrel this year over criminal jurisdiction
between the master-of-camp of these islands and the castellan of the
fort of Santiago of Manila, in regard to the imprisonment of a soldier
of the fort whom the master-of-camp arrested for offenses committed
outside of the fort. The castellan demanded the soldier, saying that
the jurisdiction over the men of his fort belongs to him, wherever
they may commit their offenses. On the other hand, your Majesty makes
the master-of-camp of this camp judge in the first instance of all
the soldiers in the Filipinas Islands (Terrenate excepted). Therefore
the latter declares that he must be judge in the first instance of all
the causes which are prosecuted in the island of Hermosa, and in the
presidios of Caraga, Cagayan, Zibu, and Oton; and that the commandants
there can do no more than to conduct the cause to the point of giving
sentence therein, sending it to him so that he may do this. The same is
declared by the castellan of the fort of Santiago of this city; but,
although it seems that he cites warrant for it, his predecessors have
not been wont to exercise it. On the other hand, the castellan alleges
that his predecessors have always exercised separate jurisdiction. In
regard to the governor of the island of Hermosa and the commandants
in the remote provinces, it cannot fail to be a hindrance that they
cannot give sentence. Accordingly, I petition your Majesty to have
this made clear; and at the same time to decide who is to try in
the first instance the illegal acts that the castellan of the fort,
the master-of-camp himself, the general of the artillery, and the
commander of the galleys may commit. This is not clear, and there
may be cases in which such action may be necessary. May God preserve
the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to
Christendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal,

_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_

III

_Ecclesiastical affairs_

Sire:

It is three years since the death of the archbishop (who is in glory),
and during those years the land has enjoyed pe