[_Endorsed_: "December 22, 637. Have the father commissary-general
investigate the points of this letter, and file what he reports with
the letters treating of this matter and the orders of the Council,
and take all to the fiscal."
"The fiscal declares that the decrees and orders issued in regard to
this matter must, as was ordered by the Council, be filed with this
letter and the report of the father commissary-general. That done,
let it all be delivered to him, so that he may answer. Madrid, July
first, 638."
"No other papers than those which are brought are found in the
secretary's office treating of this matter, or of what the governor
says."
"The fiscal declares that the royal decrees and orders concerning
this matter should be commanded to be observed, and that the father
provincial of this order be commanded to apply the necessary correction
so that these scandals may cease, and that information must be given to
the Council of what shall be done--endeavoring to see to it that there
are no scandals or excesses, which are a great injury to souls. Madrid,
December 9, 1638."
"December 10, 638. Let the decrees that have been issued regarding
this matter be observed. Write to the father commissary-general that
it is expected from his care and attention that he will so manage that
all things may have the desirable harmony and suitable regulation. He
shall advise the Council of what occurs, and of the information that
is expected. Write to the governor that he have all manner of care
in this matter, so that the harmony and quiet of those religious may
be attained."]
_Commerce_
[_In the margin_: "[He asks] that, in addition to the permission given
for the embarcation of cloth and silver, permission be given for two
hundred and fifty thousand pesos more; for if they are prevented
from sending more than the amount conceded, the royal treasury is
defrauded out of a great sum, through the smuggling that takes place."]
Sire:
Your Majesty's orders are not obeyed strictly in the Indias, either for
want of honest officials, or because your vassals would be ruined if
your orders were executed strictly and to the letter. One of the most
essential ordinances is that of the permission that your Majesty has
been pleased to give to your vassals of these Filipinas Islands for
[exporting] two hundred and fifty thousand pesos in cloth, and the
provision that the proceeds therefrom shall not amount to more than
five hundred thousand pesos of silver. It neither has been nor is
observed; for if the officials were strict in not allowing more to
be exported than your Majesty's ordinance states, then the merchants
would do it privately, and as they could find means, and outside
of the town; and there would be no remedy for it. The same takes
place at the return of the [investment in] silver; and after that
the truth could not be ascertained. This trouble can be obviated if
your Majesty would be pleased to grant the vassals of these islands
the favor to permit them to [send exports] of two hundred and fifty
thousand pesos more. For as the people are increasing in number, and
are becoming richer, they cannot be maintained, because of the very
heavy expenses that vanity causes, unless they can export a greater
quantity of merchandise than your Majesty has permitted them to. By
that means they cheat your royal duties, and also by not paying the
freight-charges in your galleons, although those payments are the
backbone of your Majesty's treasury. By those funds the said islands
are sustained, as are also the soldiers and sailors, and the galleons
and other ordinary expenses--a great sum. I petition your Majesty
to be pleased to have this matter examined in your royal Council;
and to order me to execute what is most fitting for your service, as
far as may be possible. But since I am but one man in this region,
I have no one to aid me, and I shall not be able to carry out my
wishes. Another means occurs to me, namely, for your Majesty to
be pleased to grant tacit permission to your governor that, for
all the goods exported over and above the amount permitted, he may
strike a bargain with the said inhabitants, and oblige them to pay
here all the duties and freight-charges that they would pay if such
cloth were registered. This measure has one great drawback--namely,
whether your Majesty can find vassals who will serve you as governors,
whose consciences are so well regulated that they will serve you as
is just. Therefore, Sire, I think it better, in order to obviate
so great a loss as your Majesty suffers in your royal treasury,
for you to be pleased to grant permission for the two hundred and
fifty thousand pesos, whether to ecclesiastics or to laymen; and to
order, under severe penalties of life or of loss of office in your
royal service, that it be executed or observed inviolate. Account
must also be rendered to your Majesty in this matter, in which there
is so much corruption in all the Indias and in these islands--with
flagrant violation of law, since it has obliged me to go in person
to perform the duty of a royal official by lading the vessels myself,
and not permitting any consignment outside the register. The governors
cannot always do that personally, because of the many occupations
and responsibilities imposed by government. In consequence, they
are forced to entrust it to your Majesty's vassals, on whom the
same penalties are laid and executed as are laid by your Majesty
on your said governors. I discharge my conscience, and am awaiting
the resolution that your Majesty may be pleased to take in this
matter. May our Lord preserve your Catholic person in its greatness,
as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, June last, one thousand six
hundred and thirty-six. Sire, your Majesty's vassal kisses your feet.