The King: To the Conde de Monterrey, my kinsman, and viceroy,
governor and captain-general of Nueva Spaña, or to the person or
persons in whose charge the government thereof may be: The kingdoms
of infidels and enemies of our holy Catholic faith, with which the
Philipinas Islands are surrounded, being so numerous and so great, the
most advisable thing for its safety and defense is to settle it with
Spaniards. That colony, I am informed, is not only not being augmented,
but is not even being preserved in its present state; for the people
who are sent to those islands are few compared with the number of
those who die from the unhealthful climate of the country, and those
who are dispersed in expeditions, and because most of those who go to
the said islands do not intend to abide there, and accordingly return
with their wealth. It is considered expedient to give such persons
permission to return, so that others may be willing to go to the
islands; and it is necessary to give others such permission, either
because they are married in España, or because they are Peruvians, a
people who are injurious to the community. Consequently there is always
a lack of people, and those who remain there are the poorest. As it
is expedient to attend with great care to the settlement of the said
Islands and their conservation, I charge and command you to provide
for and send thither useful people, and to see to it that settlers
of good character go thither. In order that this may be done, and
that they may live and remain there, you will see to the careful and
rigorous execution of the orders already given concerning the trade of
the Philipinas with your country of Nueva España, and that the object
be attained for which it is permitted--that is, that it be directed
to the settlement and conservation of the said islands and applied to
the benefit and advantage of the citizens--taking care that nothing
be done which shall transgress any order which has been given in the
matter, or which may be so given in the future, and with great care
favoring the interests of the said islands. In this you will please me.
Given at Zamora, on the sixteenth of February, in the year one thousand
six hundred and two.
_I, The King_