dian of Manila, Fray Jose Forte,
for causes which the ex-provincial ought to have discovered, this
order caused the greatest scandal in the community that has been seen
here. As it did not happen in my time, I am only obliged to inform
your Majesty of it, but not of the disorders committed. [_Decreed in
the margin_: "In the Council, December 12, 1637. That the secretary
request the commissary-general of the Indias to report what happened
in this matter. Let examination be made to discover whether there
are any papers or letters that concern this matter."]

[_In the margin_: "The provincials of St. Francis, past and present,
are coming to relate what they have done."]

I have decreed that the provincials, past and present, and the
commissary himself, go to report to your Majesty and to their superiors
what they have done; and your Majesty will there give orders as to
which they must be--discalced, as hitherto, or Observantines. [_Decreed
in the margin_: "See above. If these religious come, have this
section brought."]

[_In the margin_: "That the Order of St. Augustine is in need of
reform; he mentions the causes for it."]

The Order of St. Augustine--of the Recollects, in particular (although
they came here, Sire, to reform the others), it is seen and understood,
have as great need of reformation as the first--refused to obey his
Holiness or your Majesty's decrees. In regard to the alternation [21]
that the creoles asked, various remarks are made on this matter, and
the blame is cast on Don Juan Cereco de Salamanca. This order recognize
the injury and injustice that they are doing to the creoles, and they
know that I am not ignorant of any defects and imperfections, however
serious. They have recognized in me that I shall not distort justice
for anyone, and they have consequently composed themselves--quite
early desisting from counseling the archbishop as the others did,
and being reconciled, and returning to unite with the Order of the
Society, withdrawing from the union which they and the other orders had
formed against those fathers. Their present provincial is a discreet,
honorable, and upright man, so that the order is better regulated. The
most efficient remedy that your Majesty can adopt is, not to grant them
any more religious for eight years, or permission to them to travel;
for besides the fact that there are many of them here, and so many
do not die as are reported to your Majesty, last year there came
w