e treasury of the fourth. [34]

The Camara [_i.e._, Council]; let this be now examined. At Valladolid,
January 14, 1605.

The licentiate _Alonzo Fernandez de Castro_

I, Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus and procurator thereof
for the Philipinas, affirm, in the name of the residence of the said
Society in the city of Santo Nombre de Jesus, that when your Majesty
had examined the official reports conveyed in letters from the royal
Audiencia of Manila and from the bishop of the said city of Santo
Nombre de Jesus, and the _ex parte_ statement made at the request
of the said residence, your Majesty decreed that the matter should
be considered at the present time. Since the present necessity of
the residence is so urgent, as appears from the documents presented,
and since the service which it will perform to our Lord God and to
your Majesty is so great, provided that the grant desired for the
said residence shall be given, I supplicate your Majesty anew to be
pleased to consider again the documents which in virtue of a royal
decree of your Majesty were made and have been presented. From the
four Statements of testimony officially presented, will plainly
appear the care and attention with which the religious of the said
Society have attended and do attend to the administration of the
holy sacraments, and to preaching and hearing confessions, not only
from the Spaniards of the said city of El Santo Nombre de Jesus but
from the natives and Sangleys. They give their assistance in all the
necessities of the people, both spiritual and temporal, with special
care; and the said residence has schools in which their children are
not only taught to read and write, but also receive instruction in
good morals and habits, and, for all those who desire it, in Latin
also. There are many students, from whose education and instruction
results much good and advantage to all that country. At the same time,
the aforesaid residence is very poor, since it has no fixed income
to sustain it. The result is that it suffers great need; and if it
receives no assistance there is no doubt that the necessity in which
it at present is will be increased, since the country is very poor,
and the gifts which are made to it are extremely small. At the same
time the expenses are heavy; and it is now housed in a very small,
old, wooden building, which at the present time is decaying and is
in great need of repairs. The members of the said Society receive