of affairs, they decreed and ordered that, now and henceforth, all the said commissioners, unless they have legitimate occupation or obstacle, shall be present without fail in the hall at all the sessions of the Audiencia with the greatest punctuality, so that in all matters there may be the prompt action which is desirable, under penalty of a fine of one peso from him who shall disobey this decree, the fine to be applied immediately upon condemnation, in this manner—­six reals to the poor in the prisons, and two for the bailiff who has to execute the decree.  By this act they so provided, ordered, and decreed.

Before me:  Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

An act decreeing that orders shall be given regarding the sworn memoranda of the collector of fines.

In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first of January, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia, attorney in the cases of the Audiencia, is appointed by this royal Audiencia to collect its fines, and ordered to assess the fines imposed upon its officials and other persons who do not observe the royal ordinances, and all other ordinances, decrees, and provisions, to the amount that must be levied for each fine—­for, by not executing the penalties thereof daily, there are many oversights and no little remissness in the fulfilment of each one’s obligations:  therefore, in order that the requisite system be observed in everything, they decreed that, by giving the said Pedro Fernandez de Sanctofimia the present sworn memorandum of fines to be imposed upon everyone, he shall immediately receive his orders thereby regarding what he is commanded to levy for each fine.  The latter he shall do immediately, as the said memorandum shall indicate, without any investigation or mandate preceding.  The orders that he shall so give shall be executed by the bailiff or alguazil of this royal Audiencia, whenever they shall be issued.  Whatever the latter shall collect he shall deliver to the said collector of fines, who shall take charge of it, and enter it carefully in a book, that he may give strict and clear account of each fine collected.  And they charged each other’s consciences with the fulfilment of all the above.  By this act they so provided, ordered, and decreed.

Before me:  Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

An act decreeing the making of a book in which shall be entered the decrees sent and to be sent by his Majesty to these islands, in order that they may be observed and executed.