Don Phelipe, by the grace of God, etc.
Inasmuch as we have been informed by the council and by the
judicial and executive departments of the city of Manila, in the
island of Luzon of the West, that the citizens and inhabitants of
the said city have served us with much faithfulness and loyalty,
and have endured great hardships; and that, after the said island
was discovered and pacified, and the said city founded therein,
the governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (now defunct), in our name,
gave to the latter the title and designation _Ynsigne e siempre
leal Cibdad_, ["Distinguished and ever loyal City"], and to the said
island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_ ["New Kingdom of
Castilla"]; and inasmuch as supplication has been made to us, for
the greater welfare of the said city and the perpetual remembrance
of the services of its citizens, that we order the confirmation
of the said title _Insigne e siempre leal Cibdad de Manila_, and
to the said island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_, and
that it might be our will that they be so designated and named, or
however else might be our pleasure: now therefore, we, after careful
consideration of the above, and of the good and loyal services that
the said city and its citizens have rendered us, do regard favorably
the above supplication; and by the present we do confirm and approve,
to the said city of Manila, the title _Insigne e siempre leal Cibdad_,
given it, in our name, by the said governor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi;
and to the said island of Luzon, the said title and appellation _Nuevo
Reyno de Castilla_. And we do consent that the said city of Manila
bear forever the designation and title _Insigne e siempre leal_, and
the said island of Luzon that of _Nuevo Reyno de Castilla_, which we,
by this, our decree, grant as title and appellation, with leave and
permission to be so designated and called as abovesaid, and to place
the same on any or all documents that are drawn up and contracted,
and on all letters that are written. And we do hereby order the same,
under our hand and seal, and with the confirmation of my Council of
the Indies. Given at Madrid on the twenty-first day of June, in the
year one thousand five hundred and seventy-four.
_I The King_
[_Endorsed_: "Registered."]
Granting to Manila the Office of Corredor de Lonxa for the Estates
of the City
Don Felipe by the grace of God, etc.
Inasmuch as we are aware of the services which the city of Manila
in the island of Luzon, entitled _el nuevo Reyno de Castilla_ ["the
new Kingdom of Castilla"], and its citizens and inhabitants, have
rendered us; and considering our desire for its honorable increase
and colonization: it is our pleasure to bestow upon the said city of
Manila, as we do, by this present, the office of _corredor de Lonxa_
[88] thereof, for the estates of the city, for such time, and no more,
as may be our pleasure. And it is our wish that in said office be
vested the jurisdiction and administration of the same according to
and in such manner as our corredores de Lonxa have exercised and do
exercise it, in the cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms
and seigniories, as well as in those of our Indias, islands, and
Tierra-Firme of the Ocean Sea; we will also that there be appointed
for said office of corredor de Lonxa, the person or persons whom the
city may see fit to appoint; and that the said person or persons
through the said appointment, and by virtue of this, our decree,
shall be authorized to enjoy and exercise the said office in all cases
and matters pertaining to it, in such wise as the other corredores de
Lonxa of the other cities, towns, and villages of these our kingdoms,
and of our aforesaid Indias, enjoy and exercise it. And they shall
enjoy the income and fees annexed and pertaining to the said office,
provided that the income which said persons shall give each year be
for the estates of said city, to be expended and distributed for
the common welfare of the same, and not for any other thing--for
which purpose we direct the present decree to be given, signed by
my hand and countersigned by our secretary. Madrid, June twenty-one,
one thousand five hundred and seventy-four.
_I The King_
[_Endorsed_: "Registered."]