Given at Aranjuez, May fifth, one thousand five hundred and eighty-three.

I The King

I, Antonio de Erasso, secretary to his Catholic Majesty, caused this to be written at his command.

The licentiate Diego Gasca de Salazar
The licentiate Alonso Martynez Espadero
The licentiate Don Gonsalvo de Cuniga
               Don Lope de Vaillo
The licentiate Emojosa
The licentiate Francisco de Villafane

Ordinances to be observed by the Audiencia established by your Majesty’s command in the city of Manila, of the island of Luzon, of the Philipinas.

[Endorsed: “Establishment of the Audiencia of Manila, and the ordinances which must be observed.  In the year 1583.”]

Two Royal Decrees Regarding the Religious

The Audiencia to Aid the Franciscans

The King:  To the president and auditors of our royal Audiencia, established at our order in the island of Luzon in the Filipinas islands.  To those islands have gone recently descalced religious of the order of St. Francis to preach the holy gospel, and to engage in the instruction and conversion of the natives therein; and more will go thither regularly, both from these kingdoms and from Nueva Espana.  Now because we hope that, by means of their instruction and example, much fruit will be gathered among those natives, therefore we desire—­a thing befitting the service of God, our Lord—­that they be aided, and held in all estimation, so that with more energy and fervor they may continue their good purpose; and we order you that, as far as you are concerned, you aid them to the utmost of your ability, and extend to them all possible protection, whenever occasion offers, as their exemplary life merits.  San Lorenzo, June twenty-one, one thousand five hundred and eighty-three.

I The King

Countersigned by Antonio de Eraso, and approved by the members of the council.

Legazpi’s Aid to the Religious Approved

The King:  To Doctor Santiago de Vera, president of our royal Audiencia established in the city of Manila, in the Filipinas islands; or, in his absence, to the person or persons to whom the government of the islands has been entrusted.  Father Andres de Aguirre, [2] of the order of St. Augustine, has reported that the adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspe gave orders in my name to pay, as a gratuity for the support of each of the religious who were engaged in the conversion and instruction of the natives of those islands, one hundred pesos of Tepusque and one hundred fanegas of rice.  Thus the religious have been aided, although in later years the judges and officials of my royal exchequer have paid this gratuity with some reluctance, alleging that for such payments my orders must be produced.  The matter having been examined by my Council of the Indias, it was agreed that I should issue this my decree, by which I command you to provide for giving the aforesaid gratuity to the said religious, as above stated.  This decree is to be executed without fail.