Majesty as a Christian that since my arrival here, although the work on the church was no farther advanced than the raising of the walls a matter of six varas, and enclosing a court, never did he come to me so that we might give orders to have even one brick placed in it.  On my faith, he has not been so forgetful of his own house, for he has one so handsome and well-finished, and from money for the restitutions, which was in his possession.  From these restitutions he gave pensions to whomsoever he wished, and took such part as he chose for his own house.  Nor have I known him, as long as I have been here, to consult in regard to placing one minister of instruction where there is none, or to convert one soul; but he has only opposed those who tried to provide instruction and to be of service in this matter.  This is because he wished, in all things, to have his clergy preferred, in regard to whom he took sufficient care to importune me for them; although they are all better merchants than students of Latin.  Consequently, in no other way was more time wasted than in listening to his complaints on this score, and regarding the Augustinian fathers—­to whom he is very hostile, because he wished his Dominican friars to have everything good; and in disposing of the misrepresentations and invented tales with which he kept coming to me, we lost much time.  In short, the bishop is growing old, as I am informing your Majesty in another letter.  But it is certain that, unless he himself goes away, I see no other remedy for the obstructions caused by his temper and passion (by which he has embarrassed the course of business and government here), than the very journey which he contemplates—­namely, to send him to Espana (as I would assuredly do, because he would have made this step necessary for me) in order to tell your Majesty that there will be no deficiency in his duties here, for he has not busied himself more in them than to hinder me in mine.  May our Lord preserve your Majesty for many long years, as Christendom needs.  Manila, June 20, 1592. [50]

Gomez Perez Dasmarinas

[Endorsed: “Manila.  To his Majesty.  Gomez Perez Dasmarinas.  June 20.”]

Sire: 

In previous letters I have reported to your Majesty the irregularities and abuses existing here in the marriage of widows of encomenderos and others who are minors, and I now refer again to the subject.  According to the order of your Majesty, the widow or child of an encomendero who served in the conquest inherits the encomienda or income.  It happens very often that the widow is young, and rich through her succession to the encomienda; and, following bad advice or personal inclination, she makes an unsuitable or improper marriage, giving that rich reward and appointment to some trader or newcomer, without merit or claim for service.  Thus many honorable and deserving men, who have rendered services to your Majesty here, and who might, by this means, be rewarded and established, are deprived of the encomiendas.  The same occurs in the case of minors, who by reason of their youth or through bad advice on the part of interested guardians or relatives (who openly sell them in marriage to the highest bidder), contract many misalliances.  In addition to these evils, many quarrels and lawsuits ensue from this practice.