the condition in which they were left, and they shall
be prosecuted before you. You shall pass sentence
upon them; and if appeal is made by the parties, or
either one of them, from your decisions, you shall
submit the appeal to the president and auditors of
my royal Audencia residing in the city of Mexico,
in Nueba Espana. You shall likewise refer to my
said Audiencia of Mexico the suits that may have received
sentence on trial in the said Audiencia, if appeal
has been made from the sentence, so that the cases
may be prosecuted before it, and sentenced in review.
And if any suits were sentenced in review in the said
Audiencia of the said Philipinas Islands, and the
execution of the sentences is demanded, then you are
authorized to have them executed, as well as the sentences
given on trial in the said Audiencia in suits pending
therein, and on which no appeal was made, and if the
said sentences on trial were passed in a case where
judgment was rendered. Likewise I declare, and
it is my will, that you may hear and try the suits
regarding Indians which shall be moved in the said
islands henceforth, and those which might come before
you on appeal from the corregidors that are and were
in the said islands. In hearing the said suits
regarding Indians, you shall observe the royal decree
and edict given at Malinas, and the declarations that
were made regarding it. In this and in all the
abovementioned cases, as well as in all other suits
and causes that the said Gomez Perez Dasmarinas can
and ought to try, as being governor and captain-general,
and you, the said licentiate Pedro de Roxas, as his
counselor and lieutenant-governor, for the determination
of the said suits and matters of justice, you shall
observe the laws and ordinances of these kingdoms,
and the instructions, provisions, and decrees, given
by the emperor and king, my sovereign (may he rest
in peace), and by me, and those that shall be given.
And for authorization to perform and fulfil all that
is above mentioned, and any portion and part of it,
and all else annexed and pertaining to it, I grant
you as complete and sufficient power as is required
and as is needed. I order the presidents and
auditors of my royal audiencias of the said Nueba
Espana, and all the councils, magistrates, regidors,
knights, esquires, officials, and good men of all
cities, towns, and hamlets of Nueba Espana and of
the said islands, to keep and observe this my decree
in every point, according to the tenor of what is contained
and declared therein; and that, for its fulfilment,
they give and cause to be given to you the help and
assistance that you request and that is necessary.
And I order my said presidents and auditors of my
said royal Audiencia of Mejico to hear the said suits
that shall be sent there, in accordance with the above
order; and that they give sentence and conclusion
to them in accordance with the law and ordinances
of these kingdoms, and with the said ordinances, provisions,
and decrees; and none of you shall violate them.
Given at San Lorenzo, August twenty-one, one thousand
five hundred and eighty-nine.