Price at which hens, chickens, and capons shall be bought and sold.  Item:  In order that the dearness of the price of fowls may cease (for they are the principal sustenance of this land), and because it is just that there shall be a common and general price for all, they ordered that no person—­Spanish, Sangley, native, or other, of any quality, rank, or condition whatever—­may sell or cause to be sold in this city, or within a radius of five leagues thereof, hens, capons, and chickens, whether of their own breeding, or of their income, profit, or property, in any way whatsoever, at a higher price than the following:  a laying Sangley hen, two and one-half reals; a Moro hen, two reals; a male chicken, one real; a pullet, one and one-half reals; a Sangley capon, three and one-half reals—­under this penalty, that whoever shall be found selling at a higher price shall lose the fowls which are thus sold, which shall be divided into three parts, among the hospitals of this city, and the informer or the judge who shall execute this decree.  At this price those who have fowls shall be obliged to give them to anyone who would buy.  The justices are charged and ordered to take care to have this scale observed and enforced in their jurisdictions, with the utmost strictness.  It shall be proclaimed and published therein, that no one may plead ignorance thereof.

That provisions shall be allowed to be sold freely. Further, they ordered that all provisions shall be freely offered, and those who bring them shall sell them at their pleasure and free will:  and no person in this city, or its suburbs and settlements, shall dare to take by force, or against their will, from the Indians or Sangleys, what they bring to sell, or cause them any injury or molestation therein, under penalty of being severely punished.

That those who sell fish and other provisions shall maintain the fixed rates.  They also ordered that those who sell fish and other provisions, shall abide by the fixed rates which are established, under the penalties imposed for the violation of them.  This act shall be publicly proclaimed in this city, and in the Sangley Parian, and in the settlements of Tondo, in order that all may know of it.

Don Francisco Tello Doctor Antonio de Morga The licentiate Tellez Almazan The licentiate Albaro Cambrano

Before me: 

Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

An act relating to the importation to this city, from the neighboring provinces, of fowls, swine, and eggs, for the ordinary allotment.