well as the support of the infantry, the building of ships, the repair of the fleets that guard these coasts, relief for the Malucas and the island of Hermosa and other presidios—­besides inevitable things, it is necessary that the governor, who is charged with all this, know how much money there is in the treasury, and that he divide it so that it may not fail for the most necessary things, If he trusted to the royal officials in this, without having a private book of the receipts and disbursements of the treasury (as I have), when he imagined that there was money for the reenforcements of the infantry and the despatch of the fleets he would find nothing.  If the treasury were supplied, there would be enough for all, and the royal officials by justifying the payments would be fulfilling their duties; but since there is not more money than for one-half of what is needed, and since we live by the art of enchantment, it is necessary that the royal officials do not pay whomever they wish, but what is most urgent and inevitable for the preservation of these kingdoms.  Accordingly, the measures introduced in this regard during the term of Don Juan de Silva were very commendable and necessary.  As it was so necessary a thing, persons of great experience advised me of it even before I had taken over the government, and experience shows me that it cannot be dispensed with. [In the margin:  “Take it to the fiscal.”  “The fiscal says that after having considered the reasons written by the governor, the practice which the latter declares has been followed, and is followed, namely, of not permitting the royal officials to make any payments from the royal treasury without his advice and decree, can be tolerated; for in such cases the other viceroys and governors are wont to provide the same, notwithstanding that it is ordered that they allow the royal officials to perform their duties freely.  Madrid, November 19, 1630.”  “That for the present, the plan now followed in this be observed, and note shall be taken that the payments made be with all justification.”]

The fourth decree is in regard to the collection of the licenses which are given to the Sangleys allowing them to remain in the islands, that this shall be made by the royal officials, and the proceeds from it punctually deposited in the royal treasury, without its being given, under any consideration, into the possession of another person.  What I have to say in this particular is that, although since my arrival at these islands that money has always been deposited with the judge of the licenses, it was always delivered every week and month to the royal officials.  The collection has been so well attended to that, although there were the same number of Sangleys in the time of Don Alonso Faxardo, during the interim of the Audiencia, and that of Don Fernando de Silva, when the most that was collected was eight thousand pesos, during these last two years it amounted one year to ninety-eight thousand pesos, and the other