The King: To Don Juan de Silva, knight of the Order of Santiago, my
governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president
of my royal Audiencia there. Your letters of July 20, 612, have been
received and examined in my Council of the Yndias, and I was pleased to
learn that you had sent to Nueva España, by the ships going that year,
the two hundred quintals of quicksilver [68] of which you informed me;
also of the friendly reception and kind feeling that you encountered
among the Chinese in the matter of selling this metal and bringing
it to Macan, where you say there is established a factory [_i.e._,
trading-post] for this purpose. I feel gratified at the diligence and
care that you have exercised in the matter, and earnestly charge you
to advance this matter, and strive that the quantity of quicksilver
that you shall purchase and send to Nueva España may be as large as
possible, in accordance with the request of the viceroy. You will
keep in close correspondence with him, and not draw on any money
that he may have sent you or shall send you in the future for this
purpose, for any of your own needs, however great. You will try to
foster this trade in such manner that it may be at as little cost as
possible. It has been thought best to advise you to consider whether
it would be possible to procure the quicksilver by having the Chinese
bring it with a clearance direct to the Philipinas, and thus do away
with the factory in Macan. For with the latter there cannot fail
to be difficulties, as the Portuguese merchants do not trade in the
quicksilver; besides, it would seem that the metal would be furnished
by this method at a lower price. I do not mention other objections
that have been considered. However, the documents that you mention
will be sent through the Council of Portugal.
What you mention in regard to the eight pesos paid by the Sangleys
who last year remained in the country, for each license, is well;
and I charge you to exercise the care which is of so much importance,
that no difficulties shall result from their presence and intercourse
in those islands.
All the papers that you send regarding the violations of law that are
imputed to the royal officials have been examined in my said Council;
and provision has been made therefor, as you are already aware by
the despatches which were sent to you. In view of the fact that the
investigation and process concerning their guilt, which you wrote me
you would send, is at present being awaited, and you have not done so,
I order you to comply with the orders that you received by the said
despatches (duplicates of which accompany this) so that, if you have
not received the originals, you may by these understand what is to be
done regarding the appointment of persons which you say you have made,
to serve in their offices in the interim.
What you say concerning the measures you have taken to regulate
the dues which the encomenderos of those islands enjoy, from the
encomiendas which they possess, has been considered, and the result
will be awaited at the first opportunity.
You did well to advise me of what the king of Japon wrote you to
the effect that he can not obstruct the friendship into which he has
entered with the Dutch, and the desire that he also has to maintain
friendly relations with my vassals. The matter is being looked into,
and at the proper time the result will be written to you.
It was likewise proper to give me an account of all you mention in
regard to the permission that Sebastian Vizcayno gave in Japon for
a ship to go thence laden with merchandise for Nueva España; and the
difficulties that in your opinion may result from the opening of this
trade, of which I am informed.
In the matter of the assessments and contributions which you say the
Indians pay, and the annoyances which they suffer on this account from
the religious who are instructing them, you speak in general terms of
all the orders in those islands; whereas it would have been best to
write to me particularly as to which orders have thus transgressed,
and to send the investigations that have been made. And, since
the protection and guardianship of the Indians is in your charge,
you should attend to them, in so far as lies in your department,
so that they may not receive any injury or grievance. You should
always carry out the provisions and ordinances in their favor,
proceeding with the religious by discreet and legal measures, and
advising with the Audiencia. You will strive to deal prudently with
the archbishop of that city, maintaining amicable relations with him,
so that from the government of both may follow the good results that
are desirable; for any lack of harmony between those who govern must
always result in evil, besides the general scandal and the bad example
that is furnished. The same is being written to the archbishop,
and he is ordered to avoid the exercise of censures in the cases
that you describe in your letter, since it is not proceeding against
the religious to give me information concerning occurrences. You are
informed of this, that you may understand the matter. As for what you
say regarding the entrance of the said archbishop in his pall, in spite
of the decree sent him which directs the contrary, I have written to
him that he should not have done this, but should have complied with
the decree, and observed the custom in these kingdoms; of this, too,
you are informed so that, being aware of it, you may take care that the
said decree is complied with as I command you to do. As to the other
matters contained in your letters, decisions will soon be reached,
and the result will be written to you soon. Pardo, December 2, 1613.
_I The King_
Countersigned by:
_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_
Signed by the members of the Council.