Law LXIV

It is advisable for our service to have constant reports on what passes in the trade and commerce between the Filipinas and Nueva Espana, in order to ascertain and discover whether it continues to increase, and what kinds of merchandise are traded, their prices, and in what money or material.  Accordingly we order the viceroys of Nueva Espana to send to our royal Council of the Indias in each trading fleet, a copy of the registers that the ships brought from those islands, and also of those of the ships sent thither; and all shall be made with great distinctness and clearness. [Felipe II—­Madrid, January 17, 1593; and Toledo, June 9, 1596.]

Law XXVIII

The viceroys, presidents, and auditors, and all other officers of justice shall make efforts to find all those who shall have been sent to Filipinas to reside during the time of their obligation, who have remained in Nueva Espana and other parts of their jurisdiction, and shall force them with all rigor to go to reside in those islands, proceeding against their persons and properties and executing the penalties that they shall have incurred.  The fiscals of our Audiencia in Manila shall plead what is advisable in regard to the aforesaid. [Felipe II—­Madrid, February 20, 1596.]

Law LIV

We order that the governors of Filipinas shall not allow slaves to be sent to Nueva Espana as a business transaction or for any other reason—­except that, when the governor goes there, his successor may give him permission to take as many as six slaves with him; to each of the auditors who shall make the voyage, four; and to other respected persons, merchants with capital, and officials of our royal treasury who go and do not return, two.  We order the viceroy, alcalde-mayor and officials of Acapulco, to see to the fulfilment and execution of this law, and to confiscate the slaves in excess of this number. [Felipe II—­Madrid, April 10, 1597]

Law XL

We order that there be but one commander and one lieutenant (who shall be admiral) for the two ships from Filipinas to Nueva Espana; that each ship shall take no more than one military captain, besides the ship master and as many as fifty effective and useful soldiers in each ship with pay, and the sailors necessary to make the voyage properly each way—­who shall be efficient and examined—­and one pilot and assistant to each ship; for both ships one purser [veedor] and accountant.  All appointments to the said posts shall be made by the governor and captain-general alone, without the intervention of the archbishop, or of any other person, notwithstanding what shall have been provided to the contrary.  We order that choice be made from among the most respected and influential inhabitants of those islands, and of those most suitable for the said offices and the duties that the appointees must exercise.  If they shall not be such, the matter shall be made an article in the governor’s residencia. [Felipe III—­Barcelona, June 15, 1599; Valladolid, December 31, 1604; San Lorenzo, April 22, 1608; Madrid, May 23, 1620.]