[49] That is “by my priestly word.”

[50] The see of Cebu was made vacant by the death of Bishop Agurto (September 14, 1608), and that of Nueva Caceres (in 1607) by the death of its second bishop, Baltasar Corarrubias, O.S.A.  The reference in our text is to the appointment of new bishops for these sees—­for Cebu, Pedro Matias, O.S.F.; and for Nueva Caceres, Pedro de Arce, O.S.A.  But, as Matias did not understand the Visayan language, these appointments were finally exchanged; Matias was transferred to Nueva Caceres, which he administered for two years and until his death, and Arce to Cebu.

[51] Because of the difficulty that has been represented to us in going or sending from very distant provinces, separated by the sea, to give their accounts, we have determined and resolved that the accounts of Chile and Filipinas shall be examined as hitherto, in accordance with the ordinances of the Audiencias—­notwithstanding what is ordained by others—­given to the accountants.  The accounts shall have to be brought and given in the tribunal of accounts.  We order that those thus examined in Chile be sent to the tribunal of accounts in Lima, and those of the Filipinas to that of Mejico.  Our royal officials of those treasuries shall also send at the beginning of each year the lists and muster-rolls of the soldiers to the said tribunals, signed also by the governor and captain-general.  The accountants of the above-mentioned tribunals shall send a report of the said accounts, with its lists, to our council of the Indias.”  Felipe III, San Lorenzo, August 17, 1609, ordinance 24. (Recopilacion de leyes, lib. viii, tit. i, ley lxxix).  A decree dated San Lorenzo, October 19, 1719, ordered this law to be observed, and ordered also inspection of the treasuries every week.  See note in Recopilacion de leyes to the above ordinance.

[52] Marcos de Lisboa was born of a noble family in Lisboa, Portugal.  At an early age he was sent to India to engage in its commerce.  Establishing himself at Malacca, he took the vows in 1582, in the Franciscan convent established there in the preceding year by Juan Bautista Pisaro.  In 1586 he went to the Philippines, where he projected and later helped to found (1594) the Confraternity of La Misericordia at Manila.  He later spent a number of years in the province of Camarines, where he labored extensively.  He was elected three times as definitor (1602, 1608, and 1616), and once (January 16, 1609), as vicar-provincial.  In 1618 he went to Mexico, whence (July 16, 1622), he went to Madrid, and then to Rome to take part in the general chapter of his order.  At the conclusion of the chapter he retired to the convent of San Gil at Madrid, where he died in the beginning of 1628.  Lisboa left a number of written works, among them four in the Bicol language, which he was the first to write.  See Huerta’s Estado, pp. 447, 448.

[53] The Marquis de Montesclaros (third marques of the title, see Vol.  XIII, p. 228) was born posthumously probably at Sevilla; and was a knight of the Order of Santiago, and gentleman of the bedchamber.  Throughout his offices as viceroy of Nueva Espana and of Peru, he showed ability and determination, and his policy was approved.  See Moreri’s Dictionnaire, vi, p. 268; and Bancroft’s History of Mexico, iii, pp. 5, 6.