place to which they go, within the said month.  That given by the said alcalde-mayor shall not carry fees in excess of one-half real.  If the alcalde-mayor of the Parian grant such permission, he shall collect no fee, since the said Chinese pay ten pesos to him, and the same amount to the clerk of the salary fund.  Having examined the matter in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it advisable to refer the matter herein contained to you, so that you may provide that the said Chinese be not annoyed or molested, in order that there may be no occasion for their coming to complain; and you shall advise the said my royal Council of the Indias of the correction that you shall apply in this matter.  Madrid, June 8, 1628

I The King By order of the king our sovereign:  Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras

The King.  To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia resident in the city of Manila of the Filipinas Islands:  Fray Melchor Manzano, of the Order of Preachers, in the name of the Chinese living in those islands has reported to me that it has been ordered for the security of the islands that the Chinese live in the village of the Parian, outside the walls of that city; but that for a few years past they have been scattered among different settlements outside of the said village.  There with difficulty can the wrongs experienced at various times by such settlements be righted, as many of them do not go to mass or hear the word of God, but indulge in excessive gambling, to their own hurt and that of the inhabitants of that city.  Any insurrection can easily be feared because they can arrange one very safely in the said settlements, where they can hold secret assemblies and meetings—­from which resulted the impositions, false testimonies one against another, and false witnesses; and the fortifications of the walls of that city are in great danger.  For if the said Chinese live in the village of the Parian, one can derive from that means to fortify the walls and prevent destruction and losses; but if they live outside the Parian, that will be lacking, and consequently the safety of that city [will be endangered].  I have been petitioned that I be pleased to order, under severe penalties, that no Chinese be permitted to have a dwelling outside the Parian; and that those now outside return there, except the married Christians who may live in the village of Vindanoc [i.e., Binondo], which has been assigned to them.  Having examined the matter in my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it fitting to refer the matter to you, so that you may proceed in it with all the haste that may be advisable for the service of God our Lord and my own, in order that those troubles cease.  You shall advise me of what you shall do, on the first opportunity.  Madrid, August 17, 1628.

I The King

By order of his Majesty: 
Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras