_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas, 1599." "Acts for the good government of
those islands."]




The Hospital for Indians at Manila


May Jesus, our salvation, dwell in the soul of your royal
Majesty. Although I am but wretched dust and ashes, I make bold to
write this letter since I am, in company with two other religious of
the Order of our seraphic father St. Francis, appointed to minister
in this royal hospital of your royal Majesty (which is called the
hospital of Sancta Ana) for the natives; in it all the natives of all
these islands are cared for, and it is situated in this city of Manila.

Favors were granted to this hospital by our most Catholic king and
sovereign, never sufficiently to be praised, your royal Majesty's
father, Don Phelipe (whom may God keep in His heaven!); he allowed it
one thousand five hundred fanegas of rice, one thousand five hundred
fowls, two hundred pieces of cloth from Ylocos, five hundred ducados
in money, and four toneladas of freight--this last being worth, one
year with another, four hundred pesos. With this income (and we have
no other), usually as many as two hundred poor persons are supported
and cared for in this hospital; besides these, there are three or
four religious who care for the sick and administer the sacraments,