Note 86 — Chapter X · THE AUDIENCIA AND THE CHURCH: THE ROYAL PATRONAGE

The audiencia also audited the accounts of the obras pías, though its jurisdiction over these funds was often opposed.86 The chief foundations of the obras pías in Manila were the Santa Misericordia and San Juan de Diós. The wealth and power of the Misericordia became so great,87 and so well did it profit by the various immunities extended to it, that by the early part of the eighteenth century it had become the object of the distrust and envy of all classes of Manila society. It was chiefly disliked because it had been permitted to utilize so much free space on the galleon. Other inconveniences had arisen from its participation in trade, wherein, possessed of so many advantages, it was enabled to derive profits and benefits that were denied to competing merchants in the colony. Complaints were made against it by certain religious orders, merchants, treasury officials, oidores, and the governor, himself. It was the consensus of opinion among these that the accounts of this society should be inspected by the government, and, in accordance with these recommendations, a cédula was expedited, ordering the society to submit its accounts to the audiencia for inspection and approval.88