In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four, while Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo of his Majesty’s council and his auditor in the said royal Audiencia, who exercises the office of its president; and Don Geronimo de Silva, captain-general on sea and land and of the artillery of these islands; Licentiate Juan de Saavedra Balderramas, Licentiate Don Matthias Flores, and Licentiate Zapata de Galvez, auditors and fiscals of the said royal Audiencia; and the judicial officials of the royal revenues, Diego de Castro Lizon, factor and overseer, and Martin Ruiz de Salazar, accountant—­were in the hall of the Audiencia; and while they were thus assembled:  the said president declared that inasmuch as a quantity of ores had been brought from the mines of the Ygolotes, so that the tests might be made here, in order to ascertain whether they conformed to those made there, of which Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, chief magistrate and commandant of the province of Pangasinan, sent a relation and attestation, it was advisable to discuss it and determine whether it would be advisable to send the ore brought thence to Nueva Espana in the ships which are next to be sent thither.  Inasmuch as there are many persons skilled in mines and assay of ore in that kingdom, they might perhaps be able to furnish the accurate tests there that had not been arrived at here.  If they did not succeed in ascertaining its quality there, that would be a greater proof of the disillusion that is talked of here.  He trusted that what might be done in this matter be most expedient for the service of the king our sovereign.  The assembly having discussed and conferred upon the question put by the said president, all were unanimously and harmoniously of one accord and opinion.  They declared and voted that for the present the expenses and costs that are being incurred in the working of the mines of the Ygolotes be curtailed; that the officials and workmen there be withdrawn and disbanded; that the one hundred chiculetes [sc. quintals] of ore and dirt which are in this city, together with the gold obtained, from the assays and tests which were made there, be sent in those vessels next to be despatched to Nueva Espana, to the royal officials of the City of Mexico; and that the matter be entrusted to the royal officials of this city—­not only to attend to it, but to send a relation of all that has taken place and of the efforts expended in the working of those mines, and the results thereof.  Thus they may there prove it, and attempt to make new efforts to know whether the greatest profit has been obtained from what was got here—­for it is understood that there are persons there of greater experience in that art—­so that advice of it may be given to the royal Council of the Indias, and may also be sent to the said royal officials of this city.