The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 8

of sacraments, shall be
presented and appointed. Therefore we strictly charge the diocesan
prelates, and those superiors of the religious orders, and we order our
viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, that in the nominations,
presentations, and appointments that they shall have to make there, as
is said, in conformity [with this decree], they shall always prefer, in the
first place, those who shall have been occupied, by life and example, in
the conversion of the Indians, and in instruction and in administering
the sacraments, and those who shall know the language of the Indians
whom they have to instruct; and, in the second place, those who shall

be the sons of Spaniards and who shall have served us in those regions.
"In order that we may better make the presentation that shall become
necessary of prelacies, dignidades, prebends, and the other
ecclesiastical offices and benefices, we ask and charge the said
diocesan prelates and the provincials of the religious orders, and we
order our viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, each one of
them, separately and distinctly by himself, without communicating one
with another, to make a list of all the dignidades, benefices, missions,
and ecclesiastical offices in his province, noting those of them that are
vacant, and those that are filled. Likewise they shall make a list of all
the ecclesiastical and religious persons, and of the sons of citizens and
Spaniards who are studying for the purpose of becoming ecclesiastics,
and of the good character, learning, competency and qualities of each
one, stating clearly his good parts and also his defects, and declaring,
so that prelacies, dignidades, benefices, and ecclesiastical offices shall
be suitably filled, both those that shall be at present found vacant, and
those that shall become vacant hereafter. Those relations shall be sent
us closed and sealed, in each fleet, and in different ships; and what shall
be deemed advisable to add to or to suppress from the preceding ones
that shall have been sent before, shall be added or suppressed; so that
no fleet shall sail without its relation. We charge the consciences of one
and all straitly with this matter.
"In order that we may not be deceived by those who come or send to
petition us to present them to some dignidad, benefice, or ecclesiastical
office, we desire, and it is our will, that he who shall thus come or send
appear before our viceroy, or before the president and Audiencia, or
before the one who shall have charge of the supreme government of the
province; and, declaring his petition, the viceroy, Audiencia, or
governor shall make the relation officially, with information
concerning his standing, learning, morals, competency, and other
details. After it is made, he shall send it separately from those persons.
Likewise the approval of their prelate shall be obtained, and warning is
given that those who come to petition for a dignidad, benefice, or
ecclesiastical office without such investigation shall not be received.
"We desire and it is our will that no person can hold, obtain, or occupy
two dignidades, or ecclesiastical benefices in the provinces of the
Yndias, either in the same or in different churches. Therefore we order

that if any one shall be presented by us for any dignidad, benefice, or
office, he shall renounce what he shall have held previously, before his
collation and appointment.
"If the one presented by us does not present himself, within the time
contained in the presentation, to the prelate who must make the
appointment and canonical installation, after the expiration of the said
time the presentation shall be void, and no appointment and canonical
installation can be made by virtue of it.
"Inasmuch as it is our will that the above-contained be observed and
obeyed, for we believe that such procedure is expedient for the service
of God and for our own, I order you to examine the above, and to
observe and obey it, and cause it to be observed and obeyed in all those
provinces and villages, and their churches, in toto, and exactly as is
contained and declared, for what time shall be our will. You shall
accomplish and fulfil it, in the ways that shall appear most advisable to
you. You shall take for this purpose such measures and precautions as
shall be advisable, in virtue of this my decree; and I give you for that
complete authority in legal form. Accordingly we request and charge
the very reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of that city, and
member of our Council, and the reverend fathers in Christ, the
archbishop of Nueva España, the venerable deans and cabildo of the
cathedral churches of that country, and all the curas, beneficiaries,
sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons, the venerable and devout
fathers provincial, guardians, priors, and other religious of the