_An act decreeing that tribute be collected for the king, our
sovereign, from all the Indians found settled and dwelling in this
city and within its bounds, who belong to his Majesty's encomiendas._
In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of March, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands examined the
petition of the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal for
his Majesty in this royal Audiencia, that the collectors of the royal
tributes of the king our sovereign, in this city and its environs,
may collect tribute from all the Indians who are found therein,
notwithstanding any obstacle or excuses whatever which may be offered
by the said Indians, or by any encomenderos. Considering that for
many years the Indians have dwelt and resided in this city, and that
their tribute belongs and pertains to his Majesty, they declared
that they ordered, and they did so order, that the collectors of
the royal tribute shall collect their tributes from all the Indians
found settled and dwelling in this city and within its bounds, who
belong to the encomiendas of his Majesty. The said Indians shall
not pay other encomenderos, nor shall such encomenderos collect any
tribute from them, under penalty of returning to the said Indians what
they shall have collected from them. In order that the provisions
of this act be observed, enforced, and executed, they ordered it
to be publicly proclaimed in this city and its limits, in both the
Tagal and the Castilian languages. They committed the execution and
enforcement of it to the official judges of the king our sovereign
in these islands. The aforesaid president and auditors also ordered
that, if any persons claim to have any right contrary to the matter
herein contained, they are to appear before this royal Audiencia,
to petition before it for whatever is fitting in their case. By this
act they so voted, ordered, and decreed.