all drugs, spices, and some other articles are the
king’s alone, and no one may trade for them
without his express permission. Careful entries
of all trading must be made, and the king shall receive
one-twentieth of all the return cargo of individuals
in the fleet. Any merchandise belonging to private
individuals who do not embark in the fleet shall be
traded last, and seven per cent of its returns shall
be paid to the king. Slaves may be bought, for
use as interpreters, but good treatment is to be accorded
them. No Indian shall be captured, nor shall
any soldier buy any slave during the time of the voyage;
but when a settlement is made they may do so, unless
the king order the contrary. Several of them
shall be sent to New Spain, however, that “they
may be seen here, and from them may be ascertained
the products of their lands.” In the fortress
of any settlement made, two houses shall be constructed,
one for Legazpi, and the other for the safe keeping
of the artillery and stores; and a ditch and drawbridge
are to be made at the entrance to it. The people
of the settlement shall live outside the fortress,
but in one place. Careful watch must be kept;
and the soldiers must take good care of their weapons,
having them always in readiness. The soldiers
and others are to be prohibited from “going
to the villages of the natives of those regions without
leave, from entering their houses, from seizing by
force anything in the camp or in their village, or
contrary to their will, and from leaving their [the
soldiers’] quarters. Especially shall you
prohibit them and order them that they have no communication
with the women of those regions.” Legazpi
is to remain aboard his vessel until the fortress
is completed. After its completion some small
boats shall be made. A church shall be built
near the fort, as well as a house for the religious,
in order that the latter may minister to the colonists
and the natives. “And you shall have especial
care that, in all your negotiations with the natives
of those regions, some of the religious accompanying
you be present, both in order to avail yourself of
their good counsel and advice, and so that the natives
may see and understand your high estimation of them;
for seeing this, and the great reverence of the soldiers
toward them, they themselves will hold the religious
in great respect. This will be of great moment,
so that, when the religious shall understand their
language, or have interpreters through whom they may
make them understand our holy Catholic faith, the
Indians shall put entire faith in them; since you
are aware that the chief thing sought after by his
majesty is the increase of our holy Catholic faith,
and the salvation of the souls of those infidels.”
To this end all help must be given to these ministers
of God. The Indian interpreters carried in the
fleet must be well treated. In case it shall
be necessary, changes may be made in these instructions,
but with the advice of the other officers; but it