and captain-general of the said Filipinas Islands,
hoping that you will continue to serve me on all occasions
with the love and faithfulness which my great trust
in you imposes upon your person. In such capacity,
it is my will that you enjoy and exercise the said
offices in the cases and matters connected with and
depending upon them, so long as I desire; and in the
manner which the persons who have exercised them hitherto
have been accustomed, permitted, or obliged to do;
and as other persons who have served and are serving
me in similar offices in these islands and provinces
of the Yndias do, may, or must do. It is my desire
that you administer justice for me, both civil and
criminal, in all the cities, towns, and places, settled
or to be settled; you shall also confer offices of
justice, war, and others which exist in the islands.
Through this decree, or a copy of it, signed by a
notary, I order that the civic bodies, courts, regidors,
knights, esquires, officers, and good men of all cities,
towns, and places of the said Filipinas Islands, and
the officers of my exchequer, and the captains, inspectors,
and other persons residing there, whatever be their
station, shall—after you, the said Gomez
Perez Dasmarinas, have taken the oath with the solemnity
required by the occasion, and according to the custom
of the cabildo of the city of Manila, of the Filipinas
Islands—receive you and look upon you as
my governor and captain-general of the said islands,
and freely allow you to enjoy and exercise the said
offices, and to carry out and execute my justice in
the said islands, whether it be through your agency
or through the lieutenants of my governor and captain-general.
I think it advisable that the offices of corregidor,
alguazil, and others which you assign in the said
islands shall be declared vacant and removed whenever
you consider that my service and the execution of my
justice demand it. You are empowered to substitute
others in their places; and to hear, dismiss, and
decide all the civil and criminal trials and suits
which may arise in the said islands and towns; you
and your lieutenants are empowered to deprive the
said offices of the fees connected with and pertaining
to them, and to make any investigation in former suits,
and other matters connected with and pertaining to
the said offices which you and your lieutenants may
consider necessary for my service, the execution of
my justice, and the settlement and government of the
said islands and communities. In order that you
may enjoy and exercise the said offices, and carry
out and execute my justice as above stated, all men
shall submit to you and give and cause to be given
to you all the support and aid which you ask and need
from them. All shall respect and obey you, and
carry out your orders and those of your lieutenants;
and they shall in no wise place or allow to be placed
any obstacle or opposition before you, since I hereby
accept and consider you as accepted in the capacity