spana alone for our aid. Although the great advantages that
have been enumerated should be enough to cause this aid to be given,
yet for the pious and so Christian heart of your Lordship I think
it better to set forth the multitude of souls converted--who in the
time of Don Francisco Tello, governor of these islands, numbered six
hundred thousand baptized; and this city of Manila, small as it is,
is the key to such great kingdoms as Japon, Coria, Great China, Sian,
Patan, Camboja, the Xavas, Sunda, and Maluco, with which Manila is
encompassed as is the center of a circle by its circumference. If
your Lordship have any interest in its preservation, I hope, through
the divine Majesty, that it will be kept, for the honor of the Lord
himself. May He protect your Lordship for many years, according to the
desire of your humble servant and chaplain. Manila, December 20, 1618.

_Joan de Ribera_,
rector of the college of the Society of Jesus at Manila.

[_Endorsed_: "Madrid, November 20, 621. To the Council for
examination."]

DOCUMENTS OF 1619-1620

Philippine ships and shipbuilding. Sebastian de Pineda; [1619].
Royal decree regarding religious expelled from their
orders. Felipe III; February 19, 1619.
Proposal to destroy Macao. Diego Aduarte, O.P.; [1619].
Relation of events in the Filipinas Islands,
1618-19. [Unsigned]; July 12, 1619.
Letter to Felipe III. Pedro de Arce; July 30, 1619.
Letter to Felipe III. Alonso Fajardo de Tenza; August 10, 1619.
Grant to seminary of Santa Potenciana. Juan Onez, and others;
1617-19.
Reforms needed in Filipinas (to be concluded). Hernando de
los Rios Coronel; 1619-1620.

_Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from MSS. in
the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the fourth is taken from a
MS. in the Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid.

_Translations_: All these documents save one are translated by James
A. Robertson; the fourth, by Herbert E. Bolton, Ethel Z. Rather,
and Mattie A. Austin, of the University of Texas.

PHILIPPINE SHIPS AND SHIPBUILDING

_Relation by Captain Sebastian de Pineda, on matters relating to
the Filipinas Islands_--_both the building of galleons, pataches,
and galleys, and other means of defense; and various things regarding
the preservation and safety of the said islands_. [37]

Sire:

In those islands is found a wood called _maria_, [38] which is
used to make all t