The King. To Marques de Cadereyta, my relative, member of my Council
of War, and my viceroy and governor and captain-general of Nueva
Espana, or the person or persons vested with its government: in a
letter written to me by the city of Manila, under date of August two
of the past year, six hundred and thirty-eight, in regard to various
matters, and which has been examined in my royal Council of the Indias,
there is a section of the following tenor:
"This kingdom finds itself in great need of inhabitants at the present
time, as a result of the said campaign; for they are dying off, and
it is many years since people have come to live in these islands
as citizens. That has been understood to arise from the loss that
the citizens have experienced, both in the affairs of this commerce
and in the execution of the favors and rewards that his Catholic
Majesty Phelipe Second, our king and sovereign (who is in heaven),
was pleased to grant to such citizens. For at present, with those of
account in this community, the citizens do not number ninety. This
is very pitiful, and it is fitting that your Majesty please to have
it corrected by ordering the said viceroy to use all possible and
effective efforts in sending as many citizens as possible every
year. They should be persons of good standing and ability, both for
the service of your Majesty and for the greater renown and authority
of this kingdom."
And inasmuch as it is proper that you attempt to relieve such
necessity, I order you to try to procure this by all possible ways
and plans, and with all the mildness and prudence that is fitting. By
so doing I shall consider myself well served by you. Given at Madrid,
October three, one thousand six hundred and thirty-nine.