ving), I presented to the said dignity of archdeacon Master
Don Andres Arias Xiron; he is a cleric of thoroughly satisfactory
character, and good parts, and is now filling that post. Of all this
I have given account to your Majesty in another letter; you will
command according to your pleasure, in regard to all the aforesaid
persons. It will give me pleasure to inform your Majesty very soon
of the vacancies which you are to fill without presentation of names
by this government; but I shall always exercise the care which I
ought in the execution and fulfilment of this decree, according to
my obligation. [_Marginal note_: "In the memorial."]

12. In another decree, dated Madrid, February 16, 635, your Majesty
gives command on account of the information sent you by Don Juan
Cereso Salamanca that the trade with Xapon had been spoiled by the
indiscretion of certain religious. I promise your Majesty that the
religious orders have done you a great service in this respect,
especially that of St. Dominic. Although they have so many times
been told of what your Majesty has seen fit to command by various
decrees, they have been unwilling to obey. About a month ago, their
provincial sent a champan belonging to the said order, with three
of their religious; one of these was among the most prominent of
their members, and he has greatly disturbed the peace of this colony
since he arrived in it. They went with a Japanese priest. It was
not enough with these religious to show them your Majesty's decrees,
nor to threaten them that an account of their proceedings should be
given to you, and that the favors which they usually demand gratis
from the government would be withheld from them. [I told them this]
in order to induce them to cease following their own pleasure in this
matter, [which they do] without heeding that your Majesty is spending
so great an amount of your income in bringing them to these islands
for the reduction of the Indians to our holy Catholic faith. But
for this they do less than is right, although they have in these
islands, without going far away to seek them, so many on whom they
can exercise the charity of their office. I assure your Majesty, with
all truthfulness, that I do nothing in your service in which I earn
more merit than in tolerating and enduring some of these religious
orders. I will endeavor, as discreetly and diligently as possible, that
this and other decrees of your Majesty relative to this matter sh