had robbed the Chinese, from whose ports they procure the silks, they dare not go to that kingdom for them.  Accordingly, to keep the terms of their offer, and not lose that trade, it will be necessary for them to await the vessels of the Chinese near that city of Manila, which are going there with silk, in order to rob them of it.  And not only will they do this damage, but they may also do the same with the ships which go to Nueva Espana, and other vessels from Malaca and Macan.  It has been represented to me that, both in order to avoid this danger to my ships and my vassals, and likewise for the importance of keeping the said Dutch from fulfilling their offer to that king—­for if they do not do it he will drive them out of his lands, where it is important [for us] that they should not secure a foothold—­it would be well to have a squadron cruise close to the port of that city [of Manila]; and to secure this result, it will not be necessary to have large ships.  I have thought it best to approve this; and, considering that when you receive this you will already have made the expeditions of which you wrote me in the letter of the fifth of September of six hundred and ten, if you have good success in them, with the help of our Lord, I command you that, with the ships that may remain to you of the fleet which you were engaged in collecting, you will keep those necessary for a squadron sufficient to cruise in that sea, and with it will attend to the matters above mentioned.  And if there are not enough ships by using these, you will make and build, with all possible despatch, what may appear to you expedient for this purpose; and will inform me, at the first opportunity, of the number and kind of ships, and how they are supplied and equipped, with both men and artillery, and with all else necessary; until I may give a different order; as such is my will.  These presents will be registered by my auditors of accounts who are in my Council of the Yndias.  Dated at Madrid, the nineteenth of December of the year 1611.

I The King

By command of the king our lord: 
Juan Ruiz de Contreras
Signed by the Council of War for the Yndias.

LETTERS TO THE DOMINICAN PROVINCIAL

To the provincial of the Order of St. Dominic for the Philipinas, directing him to apply to certain actions of the religious thereof, the correction which he ought and is bound to apply, maintaining friendly relations with the governor.

The King:  To the venerable and devout father provincial of the Order of St. Dominic for the Philipinas Islands.  By a letter from Don Juan de Silva, my governor and captain-general there, of the fifth of September, 610, I have learned that several religious of your order, from various motives, usually oppose the things that are ordered for the sake of good government.  At times this has gone so far that incidents such as to cause anxiety have occurred.  Such was the