hop--asserting that,
through their all-sufficient power, those who hinder them shall be
excommunicated--the advisable course has also been pointed out in time
past--namely, that the religious should go there with the resolution
to settle in the said Philipinas Islands, and not go elsewhere without
your permission and that of the said bishop. This must be construed
in respect to the religious who shall have been assigned to make a
settlement and to live there, and not with those who have license
from me to pass farther and to go to other regions; for when this is
given or permitted to them, it is after much consideration.

54. It has been said that, for the remedy of past confusion and
wrongs, which have resulted from people going from the said islands
to China and other districts without order or permission, it would be
advisable to ordain, under severe penalties, that no secular Spaniard
may leave them for any place or on any business, or supply a fragata,
provisions, or any other assistance to any of the said religious,
without my special order, or your permission and that of the said
bishop. Inasmuch as this fits in with the provision of the above
section, the same provision there is to be noted by you, so that
likewise you may know what pertains to this, and doing that you shall
understand it thoroughly.

You shall attend to all of the above with the care and close attention
that I expect from your character and prudence, and from your earnest
zeal in affairs touching my service. San Lorenco, August nine, one
thousand five hundred and eighty-nine.

_I The King_

By order of the king, our sovereign:

_Juan de Ybarra_

Countersigned by the council.

Customs of the Tagalogs

(_Two Relations by Juan de Plasencia, O.S.F._)

After receiving your Lordship's letter, I wished to reply immediately;
but I postponed my answer in order that I might first thoroughly
inform myself in regard to your request, and to avoid discussing
the conflicting reports of the Indians, who are wont to tell what
suits their purpose. Therefore, to this end, I collected Indians from
different districts--old men, and those of most capacity, all known
to me; and from them I have obtained the simple truth, after weeding
out much foolishness, in regard to their government, administration
of justice, inheritances, slaves, and dowries. [25] It is as follows:

_Customs of the Tagalogs_

This people always had chiefs, called by them _