hich so many advantages would follow for
the spread of the Catholic faith in Japon, and China, and among
other barbarous peoples, by rearing subjects in the said seminary in
virtue and learning as evangelical ministers, of whom there was so
much need. That was to be without any expense to the royal treasury,
since some of its seminarists were supported with alms, and some with
the revenues that belonged to their own houses.

548. His Majesty consulted his royal Council of the Indias. From
their examination of the matter a royal decree resulted, dated at
Madrid, March 3, 1710, and countersigned by his Majesty's secretary,
Don Felix de la Cruz Ahedo, and with the rubrics of five members of
the Council of the Indias. In it his Majesty manifests his just anger
at such innovations and prejudicial proceedings through the agency
of foreigners, when his Majesty had ordained it so long beforehand;
and that, with what had been done, there should be given room for such
progress to be attributed in the Roman court to the active diligence
of foreigners, when his Catholic zeal had sent, at the cost of his
royal treasury, and maintained in these parts the great number of
learned regular missionaries [who are there] for the conversion [of
the heathen], and the propagation of the holy gospel. He was angry
also because this news had come to his royal ears by other vehicles
than his vassals and ministers, and that foreigners had been allowed
in these islands without his royal consent.

549. Therefore, in the said royal order, his Majesty commands that
all the foreign seminarists be taken out of the said seminary, and
that only the eight before decided upon be left, since those were his
vassals. He allows at the most, sixteen boarders, and all those shall
enter only by permission of the governor of these islands, as the
vice-patron; and the building of the said seminary which his Majesty
had before ordered shall be promoted. If there should be persons,
who in good faith would have aided the new seminary with buildings,
incomes, and other gifts, it is asked that they consent to apply these
on the building of the seminary intended and ordered by his Majesty. In
case that they do not agree to that, the just price of whatever can
be useful for this desirable end shall be paid to them; and what is
useless shall be restored to its owners, except such buildings as
may not be necessary, which shall be immediately demolished.

550. By virtue of