The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.

3. Item:  Inasmuch as the envy of two or three men, who try, by means of trickery, to prevent and thwart any affair or action of another, is very usual and well known in this country; and it is to be presumed of these men that they will not, even if they can, pardon this conquest; and as they say slyly that the share of the citizens in the cargo may be so large that there is no one who can buy any of the tonnage, or use other artful means, or say that at least the tonnage must be sold cheaply, at less than fifty pesos a share—­in order that, as the proceeds therefrom will be slight, the conquest and exploration might not be made:  to correct the above, it is necessary to ordain that no one, under heavy penalties, can sell the piezas granted to him until the eighty toneladas are sold—­which are given them, in accordance with the royal decrees, not to be sold, but for export purposes.  We might make public by proclamations, public criers, or edicts, the provisions regarding this matter, and order the officials who regulate the cargo not to lade any pieza without certification by the receiver of the freight, of what one shall have sold, given, or transferred to another in any way, under penalty of losing his office as manager of the cargo, and one hundred pesos’ fine for each pieza thus laded.

4. Item:  In order that volunteers may be induced to serve on this occasion, a moderate ration of rice and wine shall be given them from that bought with the money received for the tonnage.  This is a matter of slight importance, since in a whole year, even if there be a hundred and fifty volunteers [aventureros], the sum does not amount to one thousand five hundred pesos.

5. Item:  That we may build the forts and fortresses of stone, or wood, as was determined by the council of war, or sun-dried mud bricks, for the preservation and defense of what is obtained from the price of the tonnage, or from the tributarios that shall have been pacified in the said province and mountains of Ygolotes, measures for this purpose being taken by three councils of war on different days.  That we be authorized to appoint wardens, their deputies, and the other necessary officers in order to govern, defend, and faithfully guard the said forts and fortresses in the name of his Majesty, together with what garrison soldiers are necessary—­to whom we may assign pay in proportion to the importance of the stronghold, after consultation with the council of war.  The pay of these shall be a charge on the royal treasury, and be paid on their presentation of their title and appointment as wardens, assistants, and other officers and soldiers.

6. Item:  That if, in the opinion of the council of war, it should be necessary for the service of the camp to appoint other needful officers, besides those specified in the other conditions, we be authorized to do so, assigning to them the adequate pay from the money received for the tonnage; and, if there is no money in that fund, from the royal tributes of the conquered country.

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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.