Your Majesty orders me by a decree of your Majesty, under date of March twenty-seven of the year twenty-nine, directed to the archbishop of this city of Manila—­which I received, as I have in charge this church in the said vacancy—­to make investigation regarding the claims of Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoca, fiscal of this royal Audiencia, that he has been given a royal decree to act as protector of the Sangleys, as his predecessors have been.  Your Majesty orders me to ascertain whether a protector is necessary, whether the Sangleys ask for one, and whether it be advisable that he should be the fiscal.  The relation made in the royal decree, Sire, by the said Doctor Don Juan de Quesada, is the truth, without adding one jot to it.  What I can say to your Majesty is that the Sangleys need a protector to defend them; and that they have no defense, as has been experienced, except when they have had the fiscals as protectors.  This is the reason why they have always been appointed.  Often many injuries and annoyances inflicted on the Sangleys are remedied by the sole authority of the fiscal, without commencing suit.  The Sangleys, Sire, ask a protector, and ask that he be the fiscal.  I have seen a petition which was presented to the governor of these islands, Don Juan Nino de Tabora, signed by very many Sangleys, in which they petition him to give them the said Don Juan de Quesada, the fiscal, as protector.  He has not determined to appoint the latter, because of the decree that he has received from your Majesty.  However, I am fully persuaded of the great advantage to the Sangleys in having the fiscal as protector.  This is the reason why no other has been appointed; for the governor says that, in conscience, he finds it very desirable for the Sangleys that the fiscal be their protector.  The Sangleys have always petitioned for a protector.  They are the ones who pay him his salary, and not your Majesty; consequently I cannot see that there should be any inconvenience in your Majesty giving them the one whom they desire and whom they pay, especially when it does not militate against your Majesty or your royal treasury.  The Sangleys are very unprotected since your Majesty ordered that the fiscal should not be their protector.  They are much better off, as they have experienced (as we all experience) the Christian spirit and honesty with which the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, has served and serves your Majesty.  Consequently, it seems to me advisable that the present fiscal, and those who shall fill that office hereafter, be the protectors of the Sangleys.  The contrary, I believe, would result in harm to the Sangleys.  No protector can have less trading and business relations with the Sangleys than the fiscal, to whom your Majesty has prohibited trade and traffic; and he has forsworn it.  May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty for many years for the welfare of His kingdoms.  Manila, July last, 1631.

Fray Pedro, bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus.