In order better to understand these tables, no estimate is made, in the class of secular ecclesiastics, of the additional sums which many of them enjoy from the treasury besides the amounts from the tributes to which they minister, for the amount required for their subsistence, in accordance with the royal decrees and acts of the treasury council obtained at the beginning of their establishment; and this surplus causes the disparity which cannot fail to be noticed. In the province of Tayabas, which is administered by the religious of St. Francis, there is no charge for rice, since this is always included in the amount of cash [supplied from the treasury]—as was agreed between this order, the governor, and the royal officials, on account of the scarcity [of supplies] in that province, and the difficulties which are found in the remittance, transportation, and delivery of that commodity.

It is also set forth that, after the budget for the provinces was drawn up, and the number of tributes in them realized, it was resolved in a conference of the royal treasury officials to abolish the register of strolling Indians, reducing them to a poll-list like the rest of the tribute-payers. According to these latest enumerations the amounts of the stipends are settled, and not in accordance with those which were considered in the aforesaid budget—from which fact arises the difference which is found in this one.

Summary of the amounts of stipends and contributions

MinistriesCashRice,Wine,Oil,
p.t.gr.cav.gant.arrobasgantas
49 curates, 13 sacristans, and 1chaplain—[seculars]9,338349,76421493,675
42 ministers, religious of St.Dominic4,663159,3266723,150
62 ministers, discalced religious of St.Francis5,760398,8957804,650
89 ministers, calced Augustinianreligious11,6904723,013101346,675
71 ministers and 1 chaplain of theSociety of Jesus7,5323814,55421835,325
28 ministers and 2 chaplains of thediscalced Augustinians2,728144,2847552,100
Totals41,7132169,83947325,575
p.t.gr.cav.gant.arrobasgantas

General summary of the amounts, in stipends, contributions, and grants, with which the ecclesiastical estate in these islands is aided on his Majesty’s account.

CashRice,Wine,Oil,
p.t.gr.cav.gant.arrobasgantas
Four cathedral churches26,490
Colleges, hospitals, and other houseswithout administration15,32644,9241582,319
Grants of encomiendas, and their netproduct7,81741
Encomiendas in which collections aremade by the royal treasury
Active missions, summary9,2391410,3763300
Stipends of ministers in charge ofdoctrinas41,7132169,83947325,575
Totals100,5863685,13963428,194
p.t.gr.cav.gant.arrobasgantas

This is, in brief, what his Catholic Majesty piously expends and distributes every year from his royal exchequer in aiding the ecclesiastical estate and the divine worship in these islands, not only in money but in rice, wine, and oil—in everything conforming to the royal decrees and other provisions, on which is based the certified statement furnished by the royal officials to this government. And, in order that the total amount from both [these kinds of aid] may be better understood, I have thought it best to proceed to the reduction of commodities [to a cash basis], by which may be exhibited the actual cash value [of all that is given for this purpose].

Reduction of commodities for the computation of the whole in cash

[Class of aid]CommoditiesfurnishedRates of costCash value,
p.t.gr.
Actual cash100,58636
Rice (24 gantas in a cavan)85,139cavans4tomins a cavan42,5694
Wine for masses (arrobas)634arrobas25pesos an arroba15,850
Oil for the lamps (gantas)28,194gantas1tomin a ganta3,5242
Sumtotal 162,530 p., 1 t., 6 gr.