have the title of canons and canonates, do not serve at all, except in their allotments and curacies.  Accordingly, even on an apostle’s day there is no one in vestments at the altar for the epistle and the gospel, which is highly discreditable.  I have asked the governor, conformably with what your Majesty charges him in the third clause of his original instructions, to provide for this matter.  But either he is unwilling to listen to me, or, if he listens to me, he does not wish to do so.  Your Majesty will know what is fitting, but it would be expedient to add four other salaries to the four which your Majesty pays—­namely two canonries and two half canonries, the incumbents of which could be vested before the altar for ministration.  I must inform your Majesty that no one will be found to take them if your Majesty does not increase the stipend; for this country is not now, as it used to be, a cheap place to live, but the most expensive in all the Indias, on account of the irregularity in its government.  Everything has been left in the hands of infidel Sangleys, who rob the country and sell us things at their own price, without there being any one to check them or keep them in bounds; in return for this, they are able to gratify and keep content those who ought to provide for it.  I do not wish to complain of my grievances to your Majesty, but to leave them in your royal hands.  But, although our house is so small that we have only fourteen persons, it is impossible to live for half a year and provide for the rest, with the salary which your Majesty orders to be given to me.  Your Majesty will be informed of this by those who are going there.  If your Majesty desires that I should go about seeking money as alms, I shall do so, so far as that would not be derogatory to the pontifical dignity among these heathen.  Again I say then, Sire, that your Majesty’s church is so ill provided, that, in place of edifying the infidels and heathen who are here, it is a cause of scoffing among them.  They say that, as they see the monasteries so richly adorned with ornaments that they have chalices of fine gold, their God must be greater than that of the secular clergy and of the friars; and they say other ridiculous things.  And nevertheless there is no one to look after it, nor any one who is grieved over it except myself, who cannot remedy it.  When I succeeded in discussing it with the governor and the officials of your Majesty’s royal treasury, they shrugged their shoulders and said that, although your Majesty says in the instructions in general terms that this should be remedied, your Majesty does not point out how, or with what funds.