bishop and friars. The royal exchequer is empty, but heavily loaded
with debts--a legacy from the Audiencia. The governor objects to the
Chinese trade, and thinks that the natives of the islands should be
induced to raise and weave their own cotton. He has issued a decree
forbidding the Chinese traders to remain in the islands; this is
violently opposed by the clergy and friars. Dasmariñas warns the king
that this measure will decrease the royal income. The bishop intends to
go to Spain, and is trying to make trouble for the governor. Another
letter of the same date is devoted to an account of his difficulties
with the ecclesiastics. He complains of their arbitrary and tyrannical
conduct, and of the bishop's headstrong and obstinate disposition,
and his interference with the conduct of secular affairs. Both he
and the friars have so used their power over the Indians that the
latter "recognize no other king or superior than the father of the
doctrina, and are more attentive to his commands than to those of
the governor." Dasmariñas accuses them of practically enslaving the
natives for their own service and benefit; and the bishop of taking
for his personal use the money entrusted to him for restitutions to
the Indians. The clergy "are all better merchants than students of
Latin." The governor thinks that it will be best to send the bishop to
Spain. In another letter (July 9), he complains of the evils arising
from the unregulated marriages of the widows and minor heirs who have
inherited encomiendas, and suggests that he be empowered to control
such marriages.

Two papers unsigned and undated, but evidently emanating from the
governor, contain suggestions for precautions to be taken by the
Spaniards in view of the threatened hostilities by the Japanese. These
suggestions are submitted to a council of war and to the religious
houses, respectively. Among the former are the expulsion of Japanese