Inasmuch as we are aware of the services which the city of Manila in the island of Luzon, entitled el nuevo Reyno de Castilla ["the new Kingdom of Castilla"], and its citizens and inhabitants, have rendered us; and considering our desire for its honorable increase and colonization:  it is our pleasure to bestow upon the said city of Manila, as we do, by this present, the office of corredor de Lonxa [88] thereof, for the estates of the city, for such time, and no more, as may be our pleasure.  And it is our wish that in said office be vested the jurisdiction and administration of the same according to and in such manner as our corredores de Lonxa have exercised and do exercise it, in the cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms and seigniories, as well as in those of our Indias, islands, and Tierra-Firme of the Ocean Sea; we will also that there be appointed for said office of corredor de Lonxa, the person or persons whom the city may see fit to appoint; and that the said person or persons through the said appointment, and by virtue of this, our decree, shall be authorized to enjoy and exercise the said office in all cases and matters pertaining to it, in such wise as the other corredores de Lonxa of the other cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms, and of our aforesaid Indias, enjoy and exercise it.  And they shall enjoy the income and fees annexed and pertaining to the said office, provided that the income which said persons shall give each year be for the estates of said city, to be expended and distributed for the common welfare of the same, and not for any other thing—­for which purpose we direct the present decree to be given, signed by my hand and countersigned by our secretary.  Madrid, June twenty-one, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four.

I The King

[Endorsed:  “Registered.”]

Opinion of Fray Martin de Rada on Tribute from the Indians

Most Illustrious Lord: 

Your Lordship [89] asks me to give, in writing, my opinion of affairs in this land; and to invent a remedy which shall result more to the service of God, our Lord, and of his Majesty, and to the security of the consciences of those who live in this land.  I say the same that I said lately in conversation with your Lordship, when your Lordship asked me in the autumn whether it would be right that the Indians should give tribute.  I told your Lordship that I had determined to call an assembly of all the religious that were in this land, so that all of us in common could discuss the affairs of the country.  Until then, it did not seem to me that any change should be made, except that the Spaniards should raise tribute by similar methods to those employed farther down on the coast—­namely, a small amount of rice, equivalent to seventy gantas, [90] and a piece of cloth, for each Indian giving tribute.  Having assented to this—­although some religious, and that rightly, have found fault with the tribute,