In a letter dated August 15, 1624, Archbishop Serrano advises the
king either to give more power and authority to the Audiencia, or
to suppress it. In the latter part of the same year the king issues
some decrees affecting the religious in the islands. The first
(dated August 30) cites earlier decrees regulating the privileges
and jurisdiction of the religious, and orders that these be strictly
observed. In a letter to the archbishop of Manila (dated October 8),
Felipe gives some directions regarding the religious orders. A letter
(dated November 27) to the Dominican provincial enumerates various
abuses practiced toward the Indians by the friars of that order,
and directs him to see that these be corrected.

An interesting chapter of ecclesiastical history is provided in the
accounts of the early Recollect missions in the islands. These are
selected from the printed works here named: _Historia general de
los religiosos descalzos del orden de San Avgvstin_, by Andrés de
San Nicolas (Madrid, 1664), and the second part of the same work, by
Luis de Jesús (Madrid, 1681); and _Historia general de Philipinas_,
by Juan de la Concepción (Manila, 1788). From all these books we
select, as has been already announced, only such portions as closely
concern our subject, and such as contain information of special value,
or which is otherwise not accessible.

From San Nicolas's work we take his account of the foundation of the
Recollect missions in the islands. This is begun in May, 1605, by Fray
Joan de San Jerónimo, who sets out with thirteen other religious;
they arrive at Cebú on May 10, 1606, one of the missionaries having
died on the voyage. After a brief description of Luzón and Manila,
the writer recounts the entrance of the Recollects into that city,
their hospitable reception from all, and their establishment in a