The Royal Audiencia Reestablished

While affairs in the Filipinas were in this condition, ships from Nueva España arrived at Manila in May 1598.

These ships brought despatches ordering the reëstablishment of the royal Audiencia, which had been suppressed in the Filipinas some years before.

Don Francisco Tello, who was governing the country, was named and appointed its president.

Its auditors were:

• Doctor Antonio de Morga
• Licentiates Christoval Telles Almaçan
• Alvaro Rodriguez Zambrano

The fiscal was Licentiate Geronymo de Salazar.

Other officials of the Audiencia were also appointed.

By the same ships arrived the archbishop, Fray Ignacio de Sanctivañes, who enjoyed the archbishopric only for a short time, for he died of dysentery in August.

The bishop of Sebu, Fray Pedro de Agurto came also.

On May 8, 1598, the royal seal of the Audiencia was received.

It was taken from the monastery of San Agustin to the cathedral with great ceremony.

Then the royal order for the establishment of the Audiencia was publicly read there, and the nominations for president, auditors, and fiscal.

Homage was done them and the usual oath administered. The president proceeded to the Audiencia hall, where the court rooms were well arranged and contained a canopy for the royal arms. There the president, auditors, and fiscal took their seats and received the ministers and officials of the Audiencia.

Then the ordinances of the Audiencia were read in the presence of as many citizens as could find room in the hall.

This completed the establishment of the Audiencia on that day.

Thenceforth it has exercised its functions, and has had charge and disposition in all cases, both civil and criminal, of its district.

The latter includes the Filipinas Islands and all the mainland, of China discovered or to be discovered. In charge of the president who acts as governor of the land, were all government affairs according to royal laws, ordinances, and special orders, which were acted on and brought before the Audiencia.