Don Philipe, by the grace of God, etc.
Inasmuch as you, Captain Agustin de Arce, in the capacity of
procurador-general of the Filipinas Islands, have informed me that
the inhabitants of the city of Manila did render me service in
its discovery, and remain there continuing this work; and inasmuch
as you have entreated me--in consideration of the said facts, and
because the said city of Manila is the capital and principal city of
the said islands, and it was therefore commanded that an audiencia
be again established there, and its cathedral church elevated into
a metropolitan church, by which the city will be ennobled--that I
should order a coat-of-arms to be bestowed upon the city, such as
is possessed by other cities of the Indias; and considering that my
council on the affairs of the Indias, after consultation with me,
has favored the above request; it has seemed to me fitting to grant
it. By these presents I assign, as the special coat-of-arms of the
said city of Manila in the Filipinas Islands, a shield which shall
have in the center of its upper part a golden castle on a red field,
closed by a blue door and windows, and which shall be surmounted
by a crown; and in the lower half on a blue field a half lion and
half dolphin of silver, armed and langued gules--that is to say,
with red nails and tongue. The said lion shall hold in his paw a
sword with guard and hilt. This coat-of-arms shall be made similar
to the accompanying shield, painted as is indicated above.
I bestow these arms upon the said city of Manila, as its own, and as
its appointed and recognized device, so that it may and shall bear and
place them upon its banners, shields, seals, flags, and standards,
and in all other parts and places desired and considered fitting,
according to, and following the same form and manner as the other
cities of my kingdoms to which I have given arms and device place
and possess them. And by this my decree, I charge the most serene
prince, Don Philipo, my very dear and well beloved son, and the
kings succeeding to me, and I order the infants, prelates, dukes,
marqueses, counts, and grandees; the masters, priors, commanders
and sub-commanders of the orders; the governors of castles, forts,
and open districts; the members of my council, and the president
and auditors of the same royal audiencias; the alcaldes, constables
of my house, court, and chanceries; all the councils, corregidors,
asistentes, governors, _veinte e cuatros,_ [31] regidors, and jurors;
and the knights, squires, officials, and freemen of all the cities,
towns, and villages of these my kingdoms and seigniories, and of my
said Indias, islands, and Tierra Firme of the Ocean Sea--both in the
present and future, and each and every one of them in his jurisdiction,
who shall be notified of this--that they observe and regard, and cause
to be observed and regarded the said grant of the said arms which I
thus bestow upon the said city of Manila in the Filipinas Islands, so
that they be allowed to place and possess them in the said city. And I
order that no obstruction or impediment be offered to this concession
or to any part of it, and that no one shall consent to place any
obstruction whatever thereto, under penalty of my displeasure, and of
a fine of ten thousand maravedis, to be paid to my exchequer, laid upon
any person who shall act contrary to this order. Given in Aranxuez, on
the twentieth day of March, one thousand five hundred and ninety-six.
_I The King_