_Certain religious of the Order of St. Dominic declare that his
Majesty's decrees are not observed, and relate the evil behavior
of the fiscal of that Audiencia. They send a memorandum of their
arguments for the suppression of the Audiencia in those islands._

Sire:

The Order of St. Dominic has been in these districts and islands
upwards of twenty-four years, and one of those who write this letter
is one of the first who came to these districts to establish the
order. Here, by the grace of God, great service has been rendered
to God and to your Majesty in the conversion of the provinces which
have been entrusted to us--namely, the province of Pangasinan, and
that of Cagayan, and this. The conversion has ceased to progress for
want of ministers, and now is not being continued for the natives. In
all the above period of time, we have seen many things, and write
as eyewitnesses. Our first statement is that if this country were
governed according to the orders and decrees despatched by your
Majesty for that purpose, it would be the most prosperous of all
your Majesty's kingdoms, for your Majesty's orders in regard to
this country seem truly to have had at the time of their ordering
the special help of the Holy Spirit. But the deplorable thing is
that your Majesty's orders and decrees are not observed; and worse,
some say that your decrees do not bind the conscience. This is very
grievous, and brings in its train great difficulties. The pity is,
that those who should be the agents and defenders of your decrees
are the first to violate them. All that is done is contrary to your
Majesty's orders and commands. As this state of affairs should be