_To the provincial of the Order of St. Dominic of the Philipinas, directing him to see to it that the religious of the order do not cross over to Japon without permission from the governor, as is ordered._ The King: To the venerable and devout father provincial of the Order of St. Dominic in the Philipinas Islands. By a letter from Don Juan de Silva, my governor and captain-general there, of the fifth of September, 610, I have learned that several religious have passed over to Japon without his permission, claiming that that of their own superiors was sufficient. As it is expedient for my service that the decrees regarding this should be executed by my said governor, as he is again ordered to do, by another decree bearing this date, I charge you that, with the diligence which I trust you will use, you will take such action that the religious of your order shall not contravene this decree; and that you will, so far as possible, secure the observance of the orders which I have issued, as that is so important for the service of God and my own, and for the good government of the islands. Madrid, on the thirty-first of December of the year 1611. _I The King_ By command of the king our lord: _Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ Signed by the members of the Council. [_Endorsed_: "_Idem_, to the provincial of the Order of St. Augustine for Philipinas." "_Idem_, to the provincial of the Society of Jesus there." "_Idem_, to the provincial of St. Francis for Philipinas."] DOCUMENTS OF 1612-13 Status of missions in the Philippines. Gregorio Lopez. S.J., and others; [_ca_. 1612]. Trade of the Philippines. Juan, marques de Montesclaros; April 12, 1612. Letter from the bishop of Nueva Segovia. [Domingo de Soria, O.P.]; August 15, 1613. Letter to Silva. Felipe III; December 2, 1613. _Sources_: All these documents save one are obtained from original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla. The second is taken from _Doc ined. Amer. y Oceania_, vi, pp. 298-314. _Translations_: The first and second are translated by James A. Robertson; the remainder by Robert W. Haight. STATUS OF MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES Order of St. Augustine _List of the convents and ministrations of the Order of our father St. Augustine in these Philipinas Islands, and the religious and ministers necessary for them._ _Spanish towns_ In the convent of the city of Manila, twenty priests and ten brethren. In the convent of the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, five priests and two brethren. In the convent of our Lady of Guadalupe, three priests and one brother. _Province of Tagalos_ Tributes Indians Ministers In the convent of Batangas and its visitas there are two ministers, who minister to eight hundred tributes, or two thousand four hundred [souls] in confession. 800 2,400 2