2 1/2. No. 18. It weighs one diezmo of eighteen carats fine. It is
worth one-half real.
2. No. 19. It weighs nine and one-half diezmos of sixteen carats
fine. It is worth three reals twenty-four maravedis.
1. No. 21. It weighs four diezmos of eighteen or nineteen carats
fine. It is worth two reals.
1/2. No. 22. It weighs three diezmos of fourteen carats fine. It is
worth one real.
2. No. 24. It weighs six and one-half diezmos of metal [but of a]
very base alloy; to judge by its points, there is no standard with
which to compare it. All the rest is copper.
No. 26. It is silver. Pelayo Hernandez. All of it is worth 5 pesos
6 tomins.
In the city of Manila, on the thirteenth of July, one thousand six
hundred and twenty-four, while Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo of
his Majesty's council and his auditor in the said royal Audiencia,
who exercises the office of its president; and Don Geronimo de Silva,
captain-general on sea and land and of the artillery of these islands;
Licentiate Juan de Saavedra Balderramas, Licentiate Don Matthias
Flores, and Licentiate Zapata de Galvez, auditors and fiscals of
the said royal Audiencia; and the judicial officials of the royal
revenues, Diego de Castro Lizon, factor and overseer, and Martin Ruiz
de Salazar, accountant--were in the hall of the Audiencia; and while
they were thus assembled: the said president declared that inasmuch as
a quantity of ores had been brought from the mines of the Ygolotes,
so that the tests might be made here, in order to ascertain whether
they conformed to those made there, of which Sargento-mayor Alonso
Martin Quirante, chief magistrate and commandant of the province
of Pangasinan, sent a relation and attestation, it was advisable to
discuss it and determine whether it would be advisable to send the
ore brought thence to Nueva España in the ships which are next to be
sent thither. Inasmuch as there are many persons skilled in mines and
assay of ore in that kingdom, they might perhaps be able to furnish
the accurate tests there that had not been arrived at here. If they
did not succeed in ascertaining its quality there, that would be a
greater proof of the disillusion that is talked of here. He trusted
that what might be done in this matter be most expedient for the
service of the king our sovereign. The assembly having discussed
and conferred upon the question put by the said president, all were
unanimously and harmoniously of one accord and opinion. They declared
and voted that for the present the expenses and costs that are being
incurred in the working of the mines of the Ygolotes be curtailed;
that the officials and workmen there be withdrawn and disbanded; that
the one hundred _chiculetes_ [_sc._ quintals] of ore and dirt which
are in this city, together with the gold obtained, from the assays
and tests which were made there, be sent in those vessels next to be
despatched to Nueva España, to the royal officials of the City of
Mexico; and that the matter be entrusted to the royal officials of
this city--not only to attend to it, but to send a relation of all
that has taken place and of the efforts expended in the working of
those mines, and the results thereof. Thus they may there prove it,
and attempt to make new efforts to know whether the greatest profit
has been obtained from what was got here--for it is understood that
there are persons there of greater experience in that art--so that
advice of it may be given to the royal Council of the Indias, and
may also be sent to the said royal officials of this city.
The president also declared that the infantry stationed in the city
of Nueva Segovia are very needy and destitute, as it is many days
since any aid has been sent to them from this city; and, as the
greater part of that province has revolted, his Majesty does not
possess in it any royal revenues with which to be able to sustain
the soldiers. [Accordingly, it should be considered] whether it
would be advisable that the infantry established in the presidio at
the mines be assigned to the province of Nueva Segovia, so that,
with greater forces, our purpose to subdue the natives who have
revolted there might be attained, since the said mines are in the
middle of the path. He also declared that, above all, the said men
present at the meeting should give their opinion, so that whatever
might be voted be carried out as might be most advisable for his
Majesty's service. The said men in the assembly having discussed
and conferred concerning the proposition of the said president, all
were unanimously and uniformly of one mind and opinion. They declared
that four installments of pay be sent to the infantry established in
the presido at the city of Nueva Segovia; and that the royal judges
and officials send directions for the order that must be observed in
relieving them. In what pertains to the infantry established in the
presidio of the mines being taken to the city of Nueva Segovia, they
declared that that be referred to the captain-general, so that he may
take what measures are most expedient for his Majesty's service. They
gave their opinion in writing, and affixed their signatures.
_Doctor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo_
_Don Geronimo de Silva_
_Licentiate Don Juan de Saavedra Balderrama_
_Licentiate Don Mathias Delgado Flores_
_Licentiate Marcos Zapota de Galvez_
_Diego de Castro Lizon_
_Martin Ruiz de Salazar_