The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 01 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 315 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 01 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 01 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 315 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 01 of 55.

Yten:  When in due time you have arrived in the regions where said fleet shall discover, you must investigate and ascertain what land it is.  If it should be a land where you must barter, you must first effect the bartering of the merchandise of the said fleet before attending to any other private interest, following the decision and opinion of our said officials of the said fleet.  After bartering the belongings of the fleet, the officers and people may barter the other merchandise of which, according to this mandate, they shall pay us the fifth part.

Yten:  As one of the principal things required in such voyages is concord among the persons in charge, you must see to it carefully that there may be unity and harmony among you, and our said captains, and other officials.  If there should be any misunderstanding among them, they must desist from all differences, and you and your companions shall settle all such and prevent them from taking place.  Do the same yourselves and all being in harmony the interests of our service will be better guarded, which if the contrary is observed, would not be the case.  This I order and charge you because therein you will serve me well.

Moreover, although the offices of our captains and inspector, treasurer, and accountant of said fleet are independent of each other, in that which relates to the trust of each, inasmuch as it is convenient for the good of our service and the increase of our royal income, for the colonization and pacification of our lands, each one must keep account of what pertains to the office of the other.  Inasmuch as the office you hold as inspector general of the said fleet is an office of great trust, and it is necessary that there be exercised therein much diligence, care, and vigilance, I order you to charge and entrust yourself with this trust because it is the one office of said fleet on which all the others depend.  Even should there be any negligence in the other offices and should there be no such good foresight and caution as is proper, if you fulfil your duty, it would be less inconvenient.  You must labor and endeavor with all your strength to observe the care and thoroughness in everything relating to your said office and necessary for our service with that care and diligence which I expect from you, so that there may be a good record and the proper caution.

Although it has not been before stated, you are to have a separate book in which you shall enter all the aforesaid.  Nevertheless you must be present at all entries and sign the books of our treasurer and accountant of the said fleet, because (though God forbid), should any accident befall any of the ships in which the said officials sail, it were well that in everything there should be due caution and a record of it; and that, besides being always present you have a separate book.  Therefore I order and charge you that this book be similar to and contain the same account of the affairs of the said fleet as the one kept by the said accountant.  You will keep a separate book, in which you will set down the accounts of the treasurer as herein stated.  You will cause said treasurer and accountant to sign also in your book; but you shall not, on this account, neglect to be present in all matters, and observe diligence in the books of the others, as before mentioned.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Volume 01 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.