_Fray Estevan Carrillo_, definitor.
_Fray Bernabe de Villalovos_, definitor of Guadalupe.
_Fray Miguel Garcia_, visitor.
_Fray Jhoan de Tapia_, associate of the late provincial and secretary
of the province [?].
_Fray Francisco Serrano_, sometime visitor.
_Fray Miguel de Siguenza_, sometime visitor.
_Fray Mathedo Dacas_, prior.
_Fray Jhoan de Pineda_, prior, and lecturer in theology.
_Fray Diego Pardo_, procurator-general.
_Fray Jheronimo de Salas_, prior.
_Fray Jhoan de Rojas_, sub-prior of Manila.
_Fray Miguel de San Marco_
_Fray Bartolome de Aguirre_
_Fray Ambrosio de Leon_, procurator.

[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1606. Considered; the decree on a separate
paper."]

Sire:

The Order of St. Augustine in these islands has for years been in
need of reform, and many letters have been written to your Majesty on
this subject. During the provincialate which has just come to an end,
that of Fray Pedro Arce, some reforms were accomplished as a result
of his good example, for he is a friar who follows the rules of his
order very scrupulously; but as he had no one to carry this beginning
to perfection, for lack of friars such as himself, he did not achieve
what he desired. His successor is named Fray Lorenzo de Leon; and he
has begun to overthrow everything which his predecessor established,
by oppressing the Castilian friars and encouraging the creoles,
[41] who are utterly shiftless and a set of fools. From this will
necessarily follow the entire ruin of the province. The only means of
remedy is that your Majesty should send religious from Castilla and
those provinces of Espana in order that this province may lift its head
and be reformed. The religious of the said order will write to your
Majesty. There are very zealous ones among them, especially Fray Pedro
de Arce, [42] the late provincial, to whom entire credit may be given.

May our Lord keep your Majesty for the good of your many
kingdoms. Manila, June 1, 1605.

_Fray Bernardo de Santa Catherina_, commissary of the Holy Office,
of the Order of St. Dominic. [43]

Sire:

In spite of the fact that I am one of those who joined in signing
a common letter which was sent to your Majesty by the majority
of the chapter of this province of our father St. Augustine in
the Philippinas, I cannot satisfy my conscience or manifest the
zeal which I ought to possess, without giving personal notice to
your Majesty of certain things with which as associate of the