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. 44]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 44

have dictated to us as being most worthy of gaining
the attention of your Lordship - at whose feet,
through the means of these lines, so many poor
Indians approach to prostrate themselves. Neophytes, and bereft of all human protection, they have
recourse to your Lordship, not only as to their governor and judge, but also as to a kind father-in
whose term of office they hope that peace and justice
will again flourish; and that the rights of the poor,
and redress for their oppressions, will often obtain a
hearing from your Lordship. This, it appears, has
not been the case in other times, certainly at the cost
of many tears, which were little heeded and never
dried by the sovereignty and power that ought to do
so. In their name, and only for the objects pointed
out at the beginning of this memorial, and that by
it we may unburden our own consciences, we are
under obligation, at least according to charity, to
solicit for them aid and justice.
We humbly entreat that your Lordship will be
pleased, in regard to these points, to carry out what
his Majesty ordains, and to take such measures as
your lfrdship may deem most suitable for prompt
execution, most easy to be obeyed, and most conformable to the royal will; and we expect that what your
Lordship shall judge to be most expedient will be in
every way the best, since his Majesty has entrusted
to your care, zeal, generous nature, and nobility the
supreme government of these islands. Manila,
October 7, in the year I70I.
FRAY JOSE VILA, provincial of the province of
Santissimo Rosario.
FRAY FRANCISCO DE SANTA YNES, provincial of
St. Francis.