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Francisco de Otaco

Decree Ordering Reforms in the Friars’ Treatment of the Indians

The King:  To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia which resides in the city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands.  I have been informed of great transgressions committed by certain religious in making repartimientos for their works on the Indians; and that the religious take, for their support, from the natives their fowls and other food at less [than the just] price, and practice on them injuries and annoyances for their own gains.  And inasmuch as it is advisable to correct this, by ordering that the religious shall not use the Indians, unless they pay them their just wage; and that, except by license of you my governor, they shall not make repartimientos on the Indians or oblige them to render service:  therefore, my royal Council of the Indias having examined the matter, I have considered it fitting to have the present issued, by which I order you to attend to the above matter in the assembly of the Audiencia there.  And in what concerns my royal patronage, my royal fiscal of my Audiencia shall prosecute as he may deem best, so that those impositions and injuries may cease.  The visitors and corregidors of the districts shall take especial care to prohibit them, and shall reform those who shall be guilty.  By virtue of the contents of this my decree, you shall despatch an order to the said religious, so that they shall, under no circumstances, inflict such injuries upon their parishioners.  This likewise do I charge upon the archbishop and bishops of those islands, and on the provincials of the orders therein.  Issued in Madrid, May twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and twenty.

I The King

Countersigned by Pedro de Ledesma, and signed by the Council.

[Note at beginning of MS.:  “Procurator for the Indians of Philipinas.  To the Audiencia of Philipinas, in respect to redress for the wrongs committed by the religious on the Indians.”]

Relation of Events in the Philipinas Islands and Neighboring Provinces and Kingdoms, from July, 1619, to July, 1620

In the same style and order in which I last year reported the various events in the Philipinas Islands, and in neighboring kingdoms and provinces upon which the welfare of the Philipinas depends, I will now write what has happened this year.  There have not been so many and various warlike occurrences as in former years, for it has been somewhat more peaceful here.  I will relate briefly what has happened as occasion may require.

Of Great China