[34] This officer had been appointed to the post of warden, without any salary, by Fernando de Silva (see the latter’s report of July 30, 1626); but Tavora soon replaced him by another.

[35] This law, dated Ventosilla, April 15, is as follows:  “Notwithstanding the claims of the alcaldes-in-ordinary of Manila, as to trying jointly the suits and causes of the Parian, on the ground that it is within the five leguas of their jurisdiction, it is our will that the governor of the Parian alone try in the first instance it suits and causes, with appeals to the Audiencia; while in respect to the government of the Parian, ley iv, titulo xv, libro ii, shall be observed.”

This latter law, dated November 4, 1606, is as follows:  “Inasmuch as the auditors of the royal Audiencia of Manila, under pretext of a decree from us dated December eighteen, one thousand six hundred and three, meddle in affairs touching the Parian or the Sangley Chinese, and in giving orders and licenses so that they may reside in the Filipinas Islands; and inasmuch as the cognizance and ruling in these matters should concern our governor and captain-general, in whom the defense of that land is vested:  therefore we order that matters concerning the Parian of the Sangleys be alone in the charge and care of our governors and captains-general, and that our royal Audiencia abstain from discussing or taking cognizance of anything touching this matter, unless it be that the governor and captain-general commit something that concerns him to them.  And in order that the advisable good relations should be held among all of them, and the Parian be governed with more unanimity and satisfaction, the governors and captains-general shall be very careful always to communicate to the royal Audiencia what shall be deemed advisable for them [to know].”

Law v of the book and titulo, from which the above laws of the regular text are taken, and which was promulgated by Carlos II and the queen mother, provides that “in the government of the Parian, and the jurisdiction, communication, and all the other things contained in ley lv, titulo xy, libro ii, what was enacted shall be observed.”

[36] See this law, ante, note 34.

[37] This same law, with slightly different wording, is found in libro viii, titulo xxix, ley xi, under the same date as the first one above.  The only material difference is in the additional words at the end:  “concealment of any quantity; and very exact account shall be taken of everything, and the balances struck.”

[38] This is but one clause in the royal decree of November 19, 1627 (which see, post); and it would seem that the date here given, June 14, must be an error for that just cited.  This and the following matter from the Recopilacion show clearly the slipshod manner in which that work was compiled.

[39] See this decree in full, pp. 164-166, post; it contains important matter which is here omitted.