written on February 29, 1644, I command you--notwithstanding that I have charged you, by other orders of mine, to reënforce and aid those islands, for the sake of their preservation--that, in view of all the representations that have been made to me in behalf of the city of Manila, and the measures that have been proposed here, and the orders that you have from me, you shall succor the said islands, endeavoring to secure their preservation and prosperity by all the means in your power. You shall be vigilant in doing this with the attention and diligence that the matter demands, considering the frequency with which the enemies attempt to invade those islands; and I shall consider myself well served by the care and watchfulness which you shall employ in their aid and defense. Dated at Zaragoza, September 18, 1645. I the King By command of our sovereign: Juan Bautista Saenz Nav[arrete] [Endorsed: "To the viceroy of Nueva España, regarding aid to Filipinas."] ERECTION OF COLLEGE OF SANTO TOMAS INTO A UNIVERSITY Letter from Felipe IV to Innocent X Very Holy Father: I am writing to the Count of Sirvela, [51] my ambassador at that court, to supplicate your Holiness, in my name, to concede a bull, so that a college of the Order of Preachers in the city of Manila of the Filipinas Islands, located in my West Indias, may become a university, with the same qualifications and perpetuity as [are possessed by] the other universities of this order in Avila and Pamplona, in these my kingdoms, and those of Lima and Méjico; and that, since they wish to found a separate university in the said city of Manila, it may be done, because that city is more than three thousand leguas distant from the nearest universities--namely, those of Lima and Méjico. I supplicate your Holiness to hear him and give entire credit to what he shall say and represent about this matter in my behalf, and to have his business despatched with all promptness and thoroughness. I shall thereby receive a special favor from your Holiness, whose very sacred person may our Lord preserve; and may He lengthen your days for the good and prosperous administration of His universal Church. Madrid, December 20, 1644. Your Holiness's very humble and devout son, Don Felipe, by the grace of God, etc., who kisses your holy feet and hands. The King Eugenio Bautista Saena Navarrete LETTER FROM FELIPE IV TO THE CONDE DE SIRVELA