without reason and so newly converted (for which reason it is so expensive to my royal revenues, from which everything necessary is given):  I request and charge you to give what order is advisable so that the aforesaid evils be remedied, as may be most necessary to the religion that they profess.  What remedy you shall furnish, you shall send to the said my Council, with all haste, so that it may be remitted to the said islands; for if that be not done with the promptness required by the case, the relief that seems most effective will [not] be applied.  Madrid, November twenty-seven, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four.

I The King

Countersigned by Joan Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the Council.

[Endorsed: “To the father-general of the Order of St. Dominic, directing him to remedy the excesses, committed on the Indians by punishing them, by the religious of that order, who have missions in Philipinas.”]

EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Extracts from the Following Works, Covering the History of the Missions to 1624:

Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de ...  San Avgvstin.  Fray Andres de San Nicolas; Madrid, 1664. (pp. 396-510.) Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden ...  S. Augustin.  Fray Lvis de Iesvs; Madrid, 1681. (pp. 1-61.) Historia general de Philipinas.  Fray Juan de la Concepcion; Manila, 1788. (Tomo iv, pp. 189-265; v, pp. 32-100.)

Sources:  The first and second of these are obtained from copies belonging to Edward E. Ayer, Chicago; the third, from a copy in the possession of the Editors.

Translations:  The matter herein presented is translated and synopsized by James A. Robertson.

EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

GENERAL HISTORY OF THE DISCALCED AUGUSTINIAN FATHERS, BY FRAY ANDRES DE SAN NICOLAS [24]

Decade II

Chapter V

Now the second provincial Chapter is held.  The mission to the Philippinas Islands is effectively discussed.  The college of Zaragoca and the convent of Pedroso are founded.  Reference to the life of Sister Polonia de los Santos.

Year 1605

[At the second provincial chapter meeting of the Augustinian Recollects, held in April, 1605, at the convent at Madrid, father Fray Joan Baptista de Vera was chosen provincial.  At that chapter meeting, the question of the rules of the young order was taken up, with other business.  After the conclusion of their business the convention dissolved, “while father Fray Joan de San Geronimo [25] was effecting his passage to the Indias, with his good companions” (pp. 396, 397).]

First mission of our religious to the Philipinas Islands