_The tribute that the king hath in these fifteene prouinces,
according vnto the truest relation._
Although this kingdome is great and very rich, yet there is none that
doth pay so little tribute ordinarily vnto their king as they do,
neither amongst Christians, Moores, nor Gentiles, that we know. The
extraordinary and personall seruice is very much, that in some respect
wee may say that they are more slaues than free men, for that they do
not possesse one foote of land; but they pay tribute in respect whereof,
as also for the great misusing of them by their gouernours, will bee a
great part and occasion to inuite them to receiue the lawe of the
gospell, and that with great facilitie to inioy the libertie of the
same.
The ordinarie tribute that euery one dooth pay that dooth keepe house,
is two Mases[81] euery yeare, which is as much as two Spanish rials of
plate. This tribute is verie little, yet the Loytians (which is a great
part of the kingdome) do pay none, neither their gouernours nor
ministers, captaines nor souldiours: the multitude of the people is so
great, and the kingdome so bigge, that alonely that which they giue for
expences of the king and his court is woonderfull, with customes,
dueties, portages, and other rents: not accounting that which is paide
vnto garisons and souldiers of that kingdome, neither in that which is
spent in repairing of walles of particular cities, and in men of warre
at sea, and campes by land, to gouernoures and iustices, which doth not
enter into this account.
[Sidenote: The rent of the king.]
The rent which remaineth vnto the king ordinarily is this that
followeth, and is taken with great regard out of the booke of his
excheker. Yet the Chinos do say that it is much lesse then that they do
pay at this time; for that this is of old antiquitie, when as the
tributes were lesse: the tributes as followeth.
[Sidenote: Pure gold.]
Of pure golde, from seuenteene to two and twentie killates,[82] they
giue him foure millions, and two hundred fiftie sixe thousand and nine
hundred Taes:[83] euerie one is worth ten rials and foure and twentie
marauadies Spanish mony.
[Sidenote: Fine siluer.]
Of fine siluer, three millions one hundred fiftie three thousand two
hundred and nineteene Taes.
[Sidenote: Pearles.]
The mines of pearles, whereof you haue many in this kingdome (although
they are not verie round), is woorth vnto him commonly two millions sixe
hundred and thirtie thousand Taes.
[Sidenote: Precious stones.]
Of precious stones of all sorts, as they come from the mines, one
million foure hundred three score and ten thousand Taes.
[Sidenote: Muske and amber.]
Of muske and amber, one million and thirtie fiue thousande Taes.
Of earthen dishes and vessell, fourscore thousand Taes. Besides all
this, the king doth put forth verie much ground to his subiects, and
they do pay him with part of the croppe that they gather, or with the
cattle that they bring vp on ye same grounde.
[Sidenote: Rice.]
The quantitie that they pay him is as followeth. Of cleane rice (which
is a common victuall throughout all the kingdome, and of the countries
adioyning to them) they pay him three score millions, one hundred three
score and eleuen thousand, eight hundred thirtie and two hanegges.
[Sidenote: Barley]
Of barley, twentie nine millions, three hundred foure score and eleuen
thousand, nine hundred fourescore and two hanegges.
[Sidenote: Wheate.]
Of wheat like vnto that in Spaine, thirtie three millions, one hundred
twentie thousand and two hundred hanegges.
[Sidenote: Salt.]
Of salt, twentie fiue millions three hundred and fortie thousand foure
hundred hanegges, which is made in his owne salt pits, and is of a great
rent.
[Sidenote: Mayz.]
Of wheat called Mayz, twentie millions two hundred and fiftie thousand
hanegs.
[Sidenote: Millo.]
Of millio,[84] twentie foure millions of hanegges.
[Sidenote: Panizo.]
Of Panizo,[85] fourteene millions and two hundred thousande hanegges.
[Sidenote: Other graine.]
Of other different graine and seeds, fortie millions and two thousand
hanegges.
[Sidenote: Peeces of silk.]
They doo pay him in peeces of silke, of fourteene vares long the peece,
two hundred fiue thousand and fiue hundred ninetie peeces.
[Sidenote: Raw silke.]
[Sidenote: Cotton wool.]
Of raw silke in bundles, fiue hundred and fortie thousande pounds. Of
cotton wool, three hundred thousand pounds.
[Sidenote: Mantels.]
Of mantles wrought of all colours, eight hundred thousand and foure
hundred mantles. Of Chimantas[86] made of rawe silke, that waieth twelue
pound a peece, three hundred thousand sixe hundred and eightie of them.
Of mantles made of cotton of fourty vares, sixe hundred seuenty eight
thousand, eight hundred and seuentie. Of Chimantas of cotton, three
hundred foure thousand sixe hundred forty and eight. All this aforesaide
is for expenses of the court, which is great. The Chinos yt come vnto
the Philippinas do affirme the same, and do not differ in the report,
which is a signe to be true: likewise they do receiue of it in his
tresurie, whereas is many millions, and cannot be otherwise, considering
his great rentes.