And I command that the same care be taken at the port of Acapulco in examining the royal silver and other articles which may be embarked and carried to the said Philipinas Islands.  The royal officials of the said port shall take account of them, and shall inform my governor thereof and the royal officials of the said islands, sending them the registers, and giving them all necessary information.  As the majority of the persons who go every year from Nueva Espana to the said islands do not remain there, but return immediately, investing what money they possess, I command my viceroy of Nueva Espana to give permission to no one to go to the Philipinas Islands, unless such person shall give securities that he will become a citizen and resident there for more than eight years, or unless he shall go as a soldier, sent to the governor; and against those who violate this decree, and their bondsmen, he shall execute the necessary penalties without fail.

And as it is my will that all the aforesaid should be complied with, observed and executed inviolably, as also the decrees which were ordered to be despatched by the king my lord, which are hereinbefore mentioned, concerning the said trade, in so far as they are not contrary to what is decreed and ordered, I command my viceroy of the said Nueva Spana and my governor and captain-general of the said Philipinas Islands, and my audiencias there, and my other judges and magistrates, and all private persons whomsoever—­each in so far as concerns him—­to observe and comply with, and cause to be observed and complied with this decree, with exactness, and to execute the said penalties without any exemption or remission.  And in all cases of remissness or carelessness which these my ministers shall display in the fulfilment and execution of the said orders, I command that the penalties be executed against them, and the example which the affair demands shall be made; for this reason I command that, when the residencias of their offices shall be taken, they shall be made responsible for such matters.  And that these commands may come to the notice of all, and none may pretend ignorance of them, I command that this my decree be publicly proclaimed.  Issued at Valladolid, on the last of December of the year one thousand six hundred and four.

I The King

Countersigned by Pedro de Ledesma; signed by the Council.

[Note at beginning of MS.:  “Your Majesty’s decision and mandates concerning the trade of the Philipinas Islands with Nueva Espana.  Corrected.”]

DOCUMENTS OF 1605

Complaints against the Chinese.  Miguel de Benavides, and others; February 3-9.  Letter from a Chinese official to Acuna.  March.  Letters from Augustinian friars to Felipe III.  Estevan Carrillo, and others; May 4-June 20.  Letter to Felipe III.  Antonio de Ribera Maldonado; June 28.

Source:  All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.