The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 36]

I649-I666] PROTEST AGAINST UNIVERSITY

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up of the proceedings in the trial. With this concurs the fact, as said, that they were passed by the
Council, of which a cedula to that effect has been
presented. Moreover in the said suit before the
Audiencia of Manila, the cedula of November 25
of [the year I6] 45 having been offered in opposition
thereto, full recognition was had of this article; and
in the trial and review of the case the claim was refused consideration, since the truthfulness and
promptness wherewith the Society was and is proceeding was in evidence - as also was its right use of
the said bulls and its conferral of degrees, of which
recognition and discussion was made before all
parties in this said suit. Besides, to assert that the
powers to confer degrees were revoked by Pius V
and Sixtus V is contrary to established fact, inasmuch as, so far as relates, appertains, and belongs to
its privileges and bulls, these not only were not withdrawn from the Society, but rather were confirmed
most amply, with the grant besides of new favors
and graces. Wherefore, as regards this plea all
question is ended, while the revocation to which he
refers concerns other parties, and other intents and
purposes, which do not belong to or affect this suit
relative to the firm and unalterable right of the Society of Jesus. The said father procurator-general,
then, should know what is so notorious that even in
Rome, where the Society has its principal university,
it has been conferring degrees on its students without
any opposition whatever, which would not be the
case were the bulls in any way defective. But this
[claim] is wholly gratuitous and censurable, as the
said decrees of execution were issued by the audiencias and councils; nor should it be offered in op