Volume 26 — Letters from Governor Hurtado de Corcuera (continued 2)

Thinking that the troubles of this order could be obviated, I requested the provincial to send that friar, Fray Jose Fonte, to Terrenate to take charge of your Majesty’s hospital there (a post so honorable that the provincial himself exercised it before being provincial)—in order to get him away from here, and prevent the discalced religious from being ill treated and from being afflicted in mind; and so that the provincial could better discharge the duties of his government and denounce the invalid acts that had been committed. Although I told the provincial that it was advisable for your Majesty’s service to have that religious leave here, for which I would be answerable to him, he refused to do so, excusing him as being a definitor. And although I told the provincial that, since he could not obey what was suggested to him in your Majesty’s name as fitting to your service, no other religious nor any supplies of his would go to Terrenate in your Majesty’s galleons, he gave himself no concern about it. Those friars, as I have written your Majesty in other letters, do not reckon themselves your vassals, and do not think that they have to obey you as such. Consequently, it is advisable, as your Majesty can do so, to have the matter examined, so that a suitable remedy may be applied. May our Lord preserve your Majesty’s Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Sire, your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[Endorsed: “December 22, 637. Have the father commissary-general investigate the points of this letter, and file what he reports with the letters treating of this matter and the orders of the Council, and take all to the fiscal.”

“The fiscal declares that the decrees and orders issued in regard to this matter must, as was ordered by the Council, be filed with this letter and the report of the father commissary-general. That done, let it all be delivered to him, so that he may answer. Madrid, July first, 638.”

“No other papers than those which are brought are found in the secretary’s office treating of this matter, or of what the governor says.”

“The fiscal declares that the royal decrees and orders concerning this matter should be commanded to be observed, and that the father provincial of this order be commanded to apply the necessary correction so that these scandals may cease, and that information must be given to the Council of what shall be done—endeavoring to see to it that there are no scandals or excesses, which are a great injury to souls. Madrid, December 9, 1638.”

“December 10, 638. Let the decrees that have been issued regarding this matter be observed. Write to the father commissary-general that it is expected from his care and attention that he will so manage that all things may have the desirable harmony and suitable regulation. He shall advise the Council of what occurs, and of the information that is expected. Write to the governor that he have all manner of care in this matter, so that the harmony and quiet of those religious may be attained.”]

Commerce

[In the margin: “[He asks] that, in addition to the permission given for the embarcation of cloth and silver, permission be given for two hundred and fifty thousand pesos more; for if they are prevented from sending more than the amount conceded, the royal treasury is defrauded out of a great sum, through the smuggling that takes place.”]

Sire:

Your Majesty’s orders are not obeyed strictly in the Indias, either for want of honest officials, or because your vassals would be ruined if your orders were executed strictly and to the letter. One of the most essential ordinances is that of the permission that your Majesty has been pleased to give to your vassals of these Filipinas Islands for [exporting] two hundred and fifty thousand pesos in cloth, and the provision that the proceeds therefrom shall not amount to more than five hundred thousand pesos of silver. It neither has been nor is observed; for if the officials were strict in not allowing more to be exported than your Majesty’s ordinance states, then the merchants would do it privately, and as they could find means, and outside of the town; and there would be no remedy for it. The same takes place at the return of the [investment in] silver; and after that the truth could not be ascertained. This trouble can be obviated if your Majesty would be pleased to grant the vassals of these islands the favor to permit them to [send exports] of two hundred and fifty thousand pesos more. For as the people are increasing in number, and are becoming richer, they cannot be maintained, because of the very heavy expenses that vanity causes, unless they can export a greater quantity of merchandise than your Majesty has permitted them to. By that means they cheat your royal duties, and also by not paying the freight-charges in your galleons, although those payments are the backbone of your Majesty’s treasury. By those funds the said islands are sustained, as are also the soldiers and sailors, and the galleons and other ordinary expenses—a great sum. I petition your Majesty to be pleased to have this matter examined in your royal Council; and to order me to execute what is most fitting for your service, as far as may be possible. But since I am but one man in this region, I have no one to aid me, and I shall not be able to carry out my wishes. Another means occurs to me, namely, for your Majesty to be pleased to grant tacit permission to your governor that, for all the goods exported over and above the amount permitted, he may strike a bargain with the said inhabitants, and oblige them to pay here all the duties and freight-charges that they would pay if such cloth were registered. This measure has one great drawback—namely, whether your Majesty can find vassals who will serve you as governors, whose consciences are so well regulated that they will serve you as is just. Therefore, Sire, I think it better, in order to obviate so great a loss as your Majesty suffers in your royal treasury, for you to be pleased to grant permission for the two hundred and fifty thousand pesos, whether to ecclesiastics or to laymen; and to order, under severe penalties of life or of loss of office in your royal service, that it be executed or observed inviolate. Account must also be rendered to your Majesty in this matter, in which there is so much corruption in all the Indias and in these islands—with flagrant violation of law, since it has obliged me to go in person to perform the duty of a royal official by lading the vessels myself, and not permitting any consignment outside the register. The governors cannot always do that personally, because of the many occupations and responsibilities imposed by government. In consequence, they are forced to entrust it to your Majesty’s vassals, on whom the same penalties are laid and executed as are laid by your Majesty on your said governors. I discharge my conscience, and am awaiting the resolution that your Majesty may be pleased to take in this matter. May our Lord preserve your Catholic person in its greatness, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, June last, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six. Sire, your Majesty’s vassal kisses your feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[Endorsed: “June 17, 1638. Let there be no innovation.”]

Chinese

[In the margin: “He says that the pagan Indians pay annually, for the general license given them, permitting them to live in those islands, nine pesos less one real; and that they live in a place called the Parián, from which they went out. And having brought them back to it, they asked permission to go to live in other places; and it was given them, by their paying ten pesos.”]

Sire:

The heathen Chinese who live in these islands and come to trade with the vassals of your Majesty, pay annually nine pesos less one real for the general license which is given them for permission to live in your Majesty’s lands, and by way of recognition. They live in a place which has been built for them near the Manila walls, called in their language “the Parián.” Many of them have gone to live outside in the stock-farms and gardens of the inhabitants, and in other parts, because of their convenience, without permission of the government. At petition of the city, I ordered an edict to be issued, ordering that all of these Chinese should return to live in their Parián, and most of them did so. Afterward, they asked with many requests and petitions to be allowed to return to live at their posts. That favor was permitted them, on condition of the payment of ten pesos two reals in place of the nine pesos less one real for their general licenses, and, in addition to this, the half-annats for the favor—the even ten pesos being for your Majesty’s treasury, and the two reals for the printing of the said licenses, and for the judge, notary, chief constable, and other officials in the matter of the licenses, who issue them and collect the silver, in which your Majesty has a profit of nine reals from each one of those licenses. Those people have no room in their own land; and when they come in their ships to bring their merchandise to this city, many come who remain. In order that that number may not increase so much, it is ordered that they be returned in the same ships, after giving them the good usage and treatment that is shown them at present. They are so contented that, with but a message sent them by their alcalde-mayor [requesting] that they aid his Majesty with [a grant of] four thousand pesos for the erection of a bulwark which has been begun, to be built in the port of Cavite, they gave that sum very willingly, without making any opposition, and offered whatever else remained in their [communal] fund. For these reasons and for others, especially for the favors and kind treatment that are accorded them, I am obliged to petition your Majesty to be pleased to grant me permission, so that, setting before them skilfully and discreetly the necessities of your Majesty for maintaining the fortifications of the port and of this city, all the remainder of the said licenses may be paid at the rate of ten pesos two reals apiece. This will increase your Majesty’s revenues by eighteen or twenty thousand pesos, and this additional income will remain in your royal treasury. I will assure to your Majesty, with the signatures of many theologians and the opinions of learned jurists, your [peace of] conscience and mine; and also by managing it with so much mildness that they themselves will ask it. That has been done by the four or five thousand Chinese who now pay it. By means of this aid and others which are being arranged, I preserve the authority of your Majesty, and free your conscience; and, provided that no one steals anything from your royal revenues, the support of these islands will be arranged for, without any help from Nueva España beyond the proceeds of the merchandise carried by the galleons. But by following this plan I have no need of anything else except that your Majesty be pleased to grant me permission to do this. May our Lord preserve your Majesty’s Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six. Your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[Endorsed: “The governor of Filipinas to his Majesty, June 30, 1636. Revenue matters. June 10, 1638.”

“Let this matter be looked up, and see whether anything has been enacted concerning it; and take it to the fiscal, with whatever notices there are concerning it.”

“Nothing has been enacted.”

“The fiscal declares that it is written in this letter that there are four or five thousand Chinese who are now paying this duty, and that it can be increased to eighteen or twenty thousand pesos of income, while the additional sum that will be paid by each one will not amount to more than nine reals. That cannot be, except by admitting into the Filipinas Islands as many more thousand Chinese, as they say, as will amount to pesos. That will be running great risk, as is well known, especially in islands so remote and so sparsely settled. And if before, when there were so few Chinese, so careful provisions were made to have them remain shut up within their Parián, so that they could not make any changes in the condition of those islands, one would think that not without danger can this be changed, with the people who come in the ships, which they are commencing to do there. Besides that, to raise the impost on his own authority, without having informed the Council thereof until after it was executed, is a matter that furnishes a very bad example; and since the amount concerned is so small as thirty-six thousand reals (at nine reals apiece, on the four thousand pesos [sic; sc. Chinese] who he says are there), it is not desirable to risk for that sum the government—which, it has been found by experience, is without danger—and to expose it to the possibility of danger. Therefore he petitions that it be ordered that no innovation be made. Madrid, June 30, 1638.”

“July 28, 1638. Have the governor informed that, considering all the circumstances that he sets forth in his letter, the measure for benefiting the imposts for the royal treasury does not appear improper; but that it will be necessary to consider very carefully how this increase of duties may be attempted and obtained. For in order to obtain that increase we cannot risk the commerce, which must be considered with the coming of the Chinese, as it conduces to the benefit of those islands; nor also the security of the country, if their numbers be greatly multiplied. For it seems that this will be necessary, if the money were to increase to so great a sum as he mentions. Have the matter entrusted to the governor himself and to the Audiencia, so that, after weighing the advantages of this measure with the advantages which might occur in its execution, and considering all the above, the decision which shall be most to his Majesty’s service and that of his royal Audiencia may be made; and that they shall report whatever they do to the Council. Have the Audiencia notified to the same effect.”]

Sire:

A communal fund was established in the Parián or alcaicería of the Chinese, who are called Sangleys, in the time of Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenca, and with your approbation given April 8, 1622. Each Sangley pays into it three tostons annually, in two payments. The ministers of justice of the said Parián are paid from that fund, as are those who live there to administer the holy sacraments, in case that some [of the Sangleys] are converted—namely, two fathers of St. Dominic. That fund also takes care of the works that your Majesty needs; and the requisite sum is furnished from it for the payment of the laborers, so that they may go willingly, and so that no other assessment need be made. With the consent of the Sangleys, Don Juan Niño de Tabora assigned from this communal fund a salary for a minister to administer the holy sacraments to the Chinese living in the town of Santa Cruz, on the other side of the river, which is in charge of the fathers of the Society of Jesus; for the said Don Juan Niño deemed that necessary. But at his death, and when an attempt was made to collect that stipend belonging to the minister of Santa Cruz, the fathers of St. Dominic refused to pay it, but on the contrary went to law about it with him. And as if they were a party in this, they brought a very strenuous suit against him, before my predecessor, Don Juan Cereço Salamanca, who gave sentence in favor of the fathers of the Society. That sentence was appealed to the royal Audiencia, and although Don Juan Cereso judged, and rightly, that there was in this matter no appeal to the Audiencia, as it was purely a point of government, he did not dare to prevent the appeal, but allowed it to pass. Upon my arrival at this island, I found this suit in the stage of petition; and, esteeming it to belong to the government, I suspended the suit, and ordered that the sentence and decree of Don Juan Niño de Tabora be carried out. The fathers of St. Dominic were angry at that, but surely without any reason, as it was none of their business—although they had so possessed themselves of the communal fund of the Parián, and so controlled it, that in the fourteen years since it was established, they have used it to get more than one hundred thousand pesos from it for matters peculiar to their order. That has been an excess and irregularity that the governors should not have allowed, as is apparent from the accounts which I ordered the accountant Juan Bautista de Cubiaga to audit on this occasion. The Sangleys of Santa Cruz and of the jurisdiction of Tondo, seeing how small was the benefit that they derived from the communal fund of the Parián, and that it was converted only to the welfare of the Sangleys of the Parián and of the fathers of St. Dominic, petitioned me to be allowed to have a separate communal fund in Tondo. Considering that they were asking for justice, for Don Alonso Faxardo, who established the said fund, declared May 4, 1622, that whenever the said Sangleys thought that they could not endure the said fund, and whenever they should oppose it and petition that it be not continued or kept up, it would be proper to have it cease—in conformity with that, I, seeing that a number of the Sangleys of the villages of Santa Cruz and Tondo were opposing (and rightfully, as the fund of the Parián was of no use to them) the payment by them, as by the others, of three tostons annually for each person, and that they were asking for a separate fund for Tondo, which should be entrusted to the alcalde-mayor, I granted it to them. I was also influenced by the service which the Sangleys of Santa Cruz offered to perform for your Majesty, as I shall immediately relate—namely, that the alcalde-mayor of Tondo should be paid from this fund, and thus the salary paid him from the royal treasury would be saved; while in the works that offered, your Majesty would be better served by having two communal funds—one in the Parián, and the other in Tondo. Therefore will your Majesty be pleased to confirm this action accordingly, for it is beneficial to the royal treasury. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[Endorsed: “Manila. Government matters. 1636.”

“June ten, six hundred and thirty-eight.”

“Ascertain whether anything has been written about this matter by the previous governors, and take it to the fiscal to be examined, together with what advices there are concerning this.”

“It does not appear that the governors have written anything about this.”

“The fiscal declares that since there are interested parties in this separation of the communal fund (namely, the Chinese of the Parián and those of Tondo), and since there is a suit pending between the two orders of St. Dominic and the Society, he cannot decide upon this matter until the parties have been heard in court, and the dispute between them settled according to law, especially if the facts are not evident by other authentic papers in this case which justify it, besides only this letter of the governor. Consequently, he opposes the approval that is requested, until he can examine in greater detail the things mentioned here by a more thorough knowledge of the cause, after the parties have been cited in court. Madrid, June 30, 1638.”

“July 24, 638. The new governor who shall go [to the islands] shall, together with the Audiencia, investigate the matter.”]

[In the margin: “He proposes names for protector of the Chinese; and in the meantime, Doctor Luis Arias de Mora is appointed, to whom are assigned two hundred pesos in addition to the eight hundred that he receives as a salary, so that he may exercise his duties as the archbishop’s counselor jointly with this office.”]

Sire:

Your Majesty has ordered that your fiscal shall not be protector of the Chinese who live near the city, and that six persons be proposed so that your Majesty may choose according to your pleasure. All the time while I have been in this government, the said Chinese have been without a protector. Thus I have had the care and task of administering justice to them; and, although they have an alcalde-mayor, they are satisfied only with what rulings the government makes. This royal Audiencia has only three advocates—or four, counting Doctor Ledo, who is at present serving as your Majesty’s fiscal. I have appointed Doctor Luis Arias de Mora, who is the senior, and a person of excellent abilities, to attend to this matter until your Majesty shall order otherwise. Licentiate Nicolas Antonio de Omaña is also a good person, as is Licentiate Manuel Suarez de Olibera, who is serving as auditor-general and my assessor. I have assigned two hundred pesos additional salary to the eight hundred of the protectorship to Don Luis Arias de Mora; for, in addition to exercising this office, he is the archbishop’s counselor. Therefore he despatches and performs what pertains to him in ecclesiastical matters, without meddling with the royal patronage and jurisdiction of your Majesty, as the archbishop has tried to do hitherto. By that means I think that the archbishop will be quiet, and we shall be able to live in peace. Doctor Luis Arias is a person who merits honor from your Majesty by giving him this charge, in which he will be excellently employed. May our Lord preserve your Majesty’s Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Sire, your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[Endorsed: “January 8, 637. Have him notified to observe the ordinance of November 22, 636, so that he may avoid new expenses of the treasury, and that no more salary be given than what is ordered.”]

Encomiendas

Sire:

Your Majesty has ordered that when persons who have been given encomiendas, and who have served in the islands, leave them, their encomiendas fall vacant, in order that they may be given to the most deserving who remain. Some persons have been able to negotiate and to obtain from your Majesty the favor and grace of being able to enjoy them for ten years, even though they live in Nueva España. Such are the adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, whose services and those of his father well deserve that honor and reward from your Majesty; also Don Fernando de Silva, of the Order of Santiago, who, because of the death of Don Alonso Faxardo, governed these islands with general approbation, and has served your Majesty for many years in the States of Flandes with the same approbation. Besides these, there are three others to whom your Majesty has granted the same favor, namely: Don Andres Perez Franco, who, although he has served for many years, and well, in the States of Flandes and in these islands, as he occupied good positions, took away from them one hundred thousand pesos, which is sufficient pay and remuneration for a soldier; besides that, the marquis of Cerralbo has given him a post in Nueva España in the castle and government of Vera Cruz. There are two other encomenderos: Don Fernando Centeno, who also took one hundred and fifty thousand pesos from here, and who also has been occupied and busied in the best posts of Nueva España by the same viceroy; and Esteban de Alcaçar, who took two hundred thousand pesos from here, to whom your Majesty had granted, as a reward, the government of Terrenate, but which he refused. As regards the services of Don Fernando Centeno, the soldiers speak of him with but scant respect. He was condemned to lose his head, for having refused to fight under Don Geronimo de Silva, on an occasion when they let the Dutch enemy escape, although the Spaniards could have punished their boldness; and also on other occasions, it is said that they did not proceed as honorable soldiers. I cannot attest to your Majesty what I have not seen, but the above is his reputation here. But granting that, and that one is occupied and the other does not admit of so honorable a post, it renders those who have served well, and are here at present, very disconsolate to see the former rewarded and very rich, and the latter poor and with no reward. And determining to inform your Majesty of all these reasons, and obeying the general decree by which no one may enjoy an encomienda if he leave these islands, and another special decree issued very recently, in which your Majesty is pleased to order some of the largest encomiendas to be assigned to the royal treasury, in order to give the religious the wine and oil which you have been pleased to grant them as a favor, so that it may not be necessary to take it from your royal treasury as has been done hitherto—I gave orders to the royal officials to place the proceeds of the three said encomiendas in the royal treasury, until, after your Majesty were informed of all the reasons which I present from here, you might order what is most advisable and is your pleasure.

I petition your Majesty to be pleased to order that these consequences be not allowed; for with them, all those who should have ordinary favor with the viceroys of Nueva España, will take measures to obtain rewards there, seeking to enjoy at the same time those grants which they have here also in encomiendas, and will solicit that favor from your Majesty through third persons. This is to the injury and disappointment of those who remain here, as I say above; and others will not be encouraged to come here, when they see beforehand the great troubles that they will undergo before they can merit and obtain some [reward] for living in so uncertain a country.

Some of the encomiendas here are very large, having incomes of from one to four thousand pesos. If your Majesty be pleased to give me permission, so that they may be reduced to five hundred pesos, by dividing these among those who best deserve them, and are poorest, all will be rewarded and paid; and there will be much to give, and also to place in your Majesty’s royal treasury. The services [rendered] in these regions, Sire, are not so arduous that this should not be a good and sufficient reward, although those who are from Flandes know better how to exaggerate them. I shall await your Majesty’s order, for I have not learned in so many years aught else than to obey. May our Lord preserve your Majesty’s Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

Administrative and financial

Sire:

Your Majesty has conceded to your viceroys of Nueva España authority, in the case of deaths and vacancies in this government, to send commissions to those who are to have charge of military matters; and until the arrival of the regularly-appointed governor you order them to send another governor from Mexico. That has been done twice by the marquis de Cerralbo—once with Don Fernando de Silva, of the Habit of Santiago, because of the death of Don Alonso Faxardo; and [the other time] with Don Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, because of the death of Don Juan Niño de Tabora. Your Majesty is greatly disserved in all of the things that I shall now mention. First, when the Audiencia was governing the [royal] estate, your Majesty’s royal treasury was pledged to more than eighty or one hundred thousand pesos, which they obtained by a forced loan from the inhabitants, by placing soldiers of the guard in their houses, quartering these on them until they lent this money; and the officials spent the money in paying warrants that were ordered to be issued to please the soldiers and sailors. It has been the custom to order those warrants to be despatched so that they might be paid when there should be any money.

As for those poor men, they have not been paid in one, three, ten, or fifteen years. They sell their warrants during such times for the fourth, fifth, or sixth part of their face value; and many have been paid at one hundred pesos for one thousand. The warrants are bought by the servants of the auditors, royal officials, governors, and other ministers, and to them is paid the face value. Thus the poor soldiers are so unjustly dispossessed of [the rewards for] their hardships; and on this account is your Majesty’s royal treasury so pledged. In the term of Don Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, more than one hundred thousand odd pesos had been paid in this kind of warrants. Your Majesty having issued a decree, in the time of Don Juan Niño de Tabora, ordering such warrants to be paid at the third of their face value, he began to do so one year with twelve thousand pesos, that he set apart for that purpose. The said Don Juan Cerezo did not pursue the custom, as he declared that the said Don Juan Niño had exceeded the bounds in the execution of your Majesty’s decree. Although this charge was brought against him in the residencia, it was not proved that he had actually paid that sum during his term. It is, however, clear to me, outside of judgment, that his own secretary, while he was judge and collector of the licenses of the Sangleys, who should have deposited that money in your Majesty’s royal treasury, deposited a great sum of it in this kind of warrants; and so that it might not be proved judicially, the owners went to receive the money from the royal officials; and while they were there, and almost before their eyes, the said secretary again took it. And perhaps it happened that a soldier, having collected it, would say that he did not wish to return it, whereupon the secretary would give ten pesos for the transaction, and thus obtained his purpose. Although I was so sure and convinced of this truth, nevertheless, as it was not proved entirely in the residencia, I did not wish to render sentence on this point, but instead to send it to your Majesty’s royal Council; for I confess, Sire, that if I had committed that outrage, as I have investigated it, I would be of the opinion that your Majesty would not be fulfilling your duty, as a just king, if you did not order me to be beheaded. After my arrival at these islands, I immediately set about executing your Majesty’s decrees. I ordered, by an act, that all those persons to whom your Majesty owed money should come to ask the third of it, the other two-thirds being commuted, so that they could ask it at no future time. All have done it and up to date we have paid in warrants of this kind the amount that your Majesty, if so inclined, can have examined from the enclosed certification, as well as what we have saved from the two-thirds that have been commuted.

Returning, Sire, to the trouble that arises from having the persons whom the viceroy sends from Mexico in your Majesty’s name to govern ad interim, there is no one who does not take back one or two hundred thousand pesos, as agents for the said inhabitants of Mexico. That is very much to the damage and prejudice of this city, for how can the goods of the inhabitants here go, and how can they make any profit on them, if the goods of those Mexicans, which are carried under charge of the commander and almirante and the other officials (the creatures of the governor), are to be sold first? And since those governors only come for one or two years, they do not exercise justice, correct disorder, preserve the authority and jurisdiction of your Majesty, or undertake any other thing than living in peace; being the protectors of all, and good merchants, in order to return very rich; complaining loudly of the hardships that they experienced in coming to serve your Majesty; boasting of the many risks to their lives, and the many expenses paid from their own property; and giving the ignorant crowd to understand that your Majesty is under great obligations to them. All this, Sire, will cease, if your Majesty will send six gentlemen of thoroughly good abilities, soldiers of Flandes, to act as substitutes and who shall have commissions for the future succession to the government, through the death or absence [of the governor]. Such men can bring their commissions, sealed, from your Majesty, and should not come from Mexico. They can be employed here as follows: the first in the fort of this city; the second in that of Cavite, and in the government of the said port; the third in Terrenate; the fourth in the island of Hermosa; the fifth in the office of master-of-camp; the sixth as commander of the artillery, in the office of sargento-mayor, and as governor and chief justice of the Parián, or alcalde-mayor of Tondo. Encomiendas could be given to all of them, as these fall vacant, if they prove to render the services and possess the qualities that are requisite; and they could be changed about in these offices, whenever advisable, so that they might become experienced in the [various] departments. Whenever one of these should assume the government because of the death of the regularly-appointed governor, such should receive the same pay as he; and, if during his absence, that which he should be receiving. I bind myself to provide for all of them, so that they may be contented. I entreat your Majesty to make this resolution, for it is expedient for your royal service. All who should come should be knights of the military orders; so that both the vassals who have rendered homage, and the heathen and other inhabitants, may learn respect and veneration for the persons whom your Majesty assigns to succeed in the government. Your Majesty has many vassals who are soldiers, of the above excellences and qualifications, who would come very willingly if they were given such positions and hopes. If that happens in my time, they will be so well established that many who have served your Majesty well would desire it. The extraordinary expenses incurred by the royal Audiencia and the greed for the wealth of Mexico will be avoided; and the greed of both must oblige them to be honest and to govern well.

When the residencia is taken from the governors they give it as if they had been imitating Moses or Joshua in their government. For as nearly all the citizens of these islands have come from Nueva España to serve for reasons of justice; and as there are others who do not wish that the present governor should note them as men who swear against the past governor, as he would think that they will do the same with him at his residencia; or so that the governor might not complain of them as having evil tongues; to tell the truth here is a great sin. No one is willing that the governor, when his residencia is taken, should impute any fault to him, or obtain any testimony as to the reason why he came here as an exile. Many other disadvantages arise, that cannot be written. In short, Sire, most people swear falsely; and those who do not, hide themselves, or retire in order not to testify. There are theologians who counsel them that they may deny the truth under oath, in order not to do wrong. This condition ought to be closely examined, and would be remedied by those commissions. Such persons should come from Madrid, and the persons who have to govern should live here.

I petition your Majesty to be pleased to have this matter examined in your royal Council, for it is very important for your service. I discharge my conscience of what is in my care, by advising your Majesty of it. May our Lord preserve your Catholic person, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six. Your vassal kisses the feet of your Majesty.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

Manila, April 11, 1636. Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, auditor of accounts and results [resultas] of these islands, in whose possession are the pay-checks of the general accounts of the royal treasury, shall certify at the foot of this decree the sum of pesos that have been paid from the royal treasury from the first of July, six hundred and thirty-five, to the last of June, six hundred and thirty-six, to various persons for pay-checks that the royal treasury owes them as pay for serving your Majesty, and for other reasons, by virtue of my decrees regarding the one-third, the owners voluntarily commuting to his Majesty the other two-thirds, in consideration of the needs and debt of the royal estate in these said islands. The certification shall be set forth in detail with the greatest clearness, together with the amount of the two-thirds of which a gift is made to his Majesty.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera Francisco de Ortega

In fulfilment of the above decree of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, governor and captain-general of these Filipinas Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia herein, I, Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, auditor of accounts and results of the royal treasury in the islands, certify that among the original pay-checks for credits on the general accounts of the royal treasury for the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-five, when the treasury was in charge of the royal official judges—namely, the accountant, Martin Ruiz de Salazar; the factor, Yñigo de Villarreal; and the treasurer, Don Baltasar Ruiz de Escalona—there appear those which will be stated here below, as having been paid to various persons to whom the royal estate owed them, as pay and daily wages, for services performed for his Majesty in various posts of sea, war, etc. [These were paid] up to one-third of their face value, by virtue of the decrees of the said governor—the other two-thirds having been given voluntarily, as a favor and proof of devotion to his Majesty, because of the obligations that were resting upon his royal treasury in these islands, as appears by the memoranda that each person presented, asking that they be paid in this manner, as is set down as in the said pay-checks. Those paid, their numbers in the files [legajos] of each department, together with the names of each person, the amount of the principal which was owing them, that of the third which was paid them, and that of the two-thirds which was commuted, are as follows:

[A marginal note reads as follows: “Certification of the auditor of accounts that the two-thirds commuted by the owners of the pay-checks, amount to

pesos tomins granos

4,295 0 6

9,923 2 5

12,523 5 3

4,912 1 1

3,095 1 6

34,150 1 9”]

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

35 56 1 11 Juan Talag, an Indian 14 5 11 31 3 0

36 32 0 0 Juan Talag, an Indian 10 5 4 21 2 8

3[7] 12 5 4 Juan Talag, an Indian 4 1 9 8 3 1

38 56 0 0 Juan Talag, an Indian 18 5 4 31 2 8

39 131 3 5 Juan Talag, an Indian 45 6 5 91 5 0

41 423 2 8 7 Indians 141 11 11 423 2 8[sic]

45 336 0 0 9 Indians 112 0 0 224 0 0

51 414 4 1[sic] Pablo de la Oliva (paid one-half) 231 2 0 231 2 0

57 340 2 4 Don Juan Sarapi 113 3 5 226 6 11

62 33 5 2 Cintay, a Sangley 11 1 11 22 4 0

1,330 0 6

Pay of the Infantry of Manila

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

76 149 7 3 Alférez Andres de Aguiar 49 7 9 99 7 6

77 280 5 9 Simon Sanchez 93 4 7 187 1 2

78 117 5 9 Juan de Mendoza 39 1 11 78 3 10

79 316 5 3 Domingo de Herrera 105 4 5 211 0 10

80 224 6 4 Alfonso Rosario 74 7 5 149 6 11

81 257 0 5 Antonio Gonzalez 85 5 5 171 3 0

82 370 0 0 Antonio Gonzalez 123 2 8 246 5 4

84 373 5 2 Antonio Gomez 124 4 4 249 0 10

88 219 0 9 Alferez Luis de Villarreal 73 0 3 146 0 6

89 129 2 5 Bartolome Martin 64 0 9 128 1 8

90 292 6 4 Juan de Orgáz 97 4 9 195 1 7

91 96 0 8 Pedro Ponce 32 0 2 64 0 6

92 280 3 0 Juan Gomez Flores 93 3 8 186 7 4

96 77 3 1 Juan Navarro 25 6 4 51 4 9

97 43 3 0 Francisco Rodriguez Caballos 15 6 4 31 4 8

98 70 0 10 Manuel Vicente 23 2 7 46 6 3

103 360 0 10 Juan Martin Roldan 320 7 4 39 0 9

108 72 2 4 Juan Galo 24 0 9 48 1 7

115 48 6 11 Fray Francisco Mexias 16 2 3 32 4 8

116 35 0 0 José Perez de Nava 11 5 4 23 2 8

118 263 6 1 Jeronimo Enriquez 87 7 4 175 6 9

120 435 0 8 Captain Juan Ruiz Barrientos 145 0 2 290 0 6

124 167 4 10 Julio Alonso 55 6 11 111 5 11

Said pay of the Infantry of Manila R[esult?] 4,295 0 6

126 505 1 8 Francisco de Leixas 168 3 2 336 6 6

136 294 7 4 Don Juan Dolosit 98 2 5 196 4 11

138 221 4 2 Captain Pedro de la Mata 73 6 8 147 5 6

Pay of the Infantry of Maluco

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

110 206 5 8 Alférez Juan de Montalvo 68 7 2 137 6 6

111 593 3 8 Alférez Juan Palomo Holgado 197 6 6 395 5 2

112 136 4 2 Alférez Juan de Santiago 45 0 4 91 0 2

114 396 2 0 Alférez Diego Nabon, a Pampango 132 0 8 264 1 4

115 200 0 0 Captain Juan de Mora 66 5 4 133 2 8

116 112 0 0 Geronimo de Atiença 37 2 8 74 5 4

117 510 0 0 Alférez Alonso Rosario Tenorio 170 0 0 340 0 0

118 184 0 3 Alférez Pedro Melendez Marques 61 2 9 122 5 6

119 1,535 0 0 Captain Alonso Serrano 511 4 0 1,023 4 0

120 1,663 0 0 Captain Don Esteban de Comosa y Losada 554 2 8 1,708 5 4

121 193 3 3 Captain Don Alonso de Dueñas 64 3 9 128 7 6

122 1,222 4 0 Captain Don Juan Garcia 407 4 0 815 0 0

123 110 4 4 Alonso Umali 36 6 9 73 5 7

124 54 6 11 Alférez Pablo Garcia 18 2 3 36 4 8

125 354 2 9 Alférez Baltazar de Reyes 118 11 0 236 1 10

126 209 0 0 Captain Rodrigo de Cossa 69 5 4 139 2 8

127 100 2 5 Sisto Ruiz 33 3 5 66 7 0

129 212 5 9 Alférez Martin Lasangan 70 7 1 141 6 8

131 158 7 1 Alférez Pablo Lili 52 7 8 105 7 5

132 217 5 4 Alférez Pablo Malanson 72 4 5 145 0 11

133 679 0 11 Alférez Alonso Rosario 226 2 11 452 6 0

134 313 4 10 Alonso Maigal 104 4 3 209 0 7

135 51 5 1 Agustín Ansay 17 1 8 34 3 5

136 189 2 7 Lucas Cavasag 63 0 10 126 1 9

137 329 4 4 Francisco Dumagui 109 6 8 219 5 5

138 553 2 7 Alférez Cristobal Jaron 184 4 2 368 6 5

139 348 0 0 Sergeant Nicolas Ciap 116 0 2 232 0 5

140 303 3 4 Alonso Mangohat 101 1 1 202 2 3

141 397 6 7 Alférez Juan Tubil 132 4 10 265 1 9

142 388 6 2 Miguel Cabalit 129 5 4 259 0 10

143 452 7 6 Alférez Diego Pilata 150 7 10 301 7 8

144 848 5 1 Alférez Agustin Lalung 282 7 0 848 5 1[sic]

145 211 3 6 Andres Naguit 70 3 10 140 7 8

146 400 0 0 Diego Ruiz Galazzo 133 2 8 266 5 4

147 622 5 3 Don Gaspar Dugui 207 4 5 415 0 10

148 203 0 0 Don Nicolas Manuel 67 5 4 135 2 8

149 694 6 2 Andrés Balu, a Pampango 231 4 8 463 1 6

150 250 3 1 Mateo Bela 83 3 8 166 7 5

151 1,575 0 11 Juan Tambing 525 1 3 1,050 0 0

152 318 2 6 Ygnacio Maudain 106 0 10 212 1 8

153 300 1 9 Juan de Vergara 100 0 7 200 1 2

155 100 0 0 Francisco de Linares 33 2 8 66 5 4

156 100 0 11 Juan Lauglaug 33 2 11 66 6 0

157 141 0 7 Agustin Niri 47 0 2 94 0 5

158 44 0 10 Pedro Benguit 14 5 10 29 3 0

159 390 4 4 Agustin Tauding 130 1 5 260 2 11

160 58 1 9 Pedro de Mora Salcedo 19 3 3 38 6 6

168 393 2 1 Miguel Suboc 131 0 8 262 1 5

177 1,004 6 1 Captain Juan Campal 334 7 4 669 6 9

178 1,494 4 5 Captain Diego Bosog 498 1 5 996 3 0

189 783 6 0 Francisco Quico 261 2 0 522 4 0

180 219 0 6 Don Nicolas Banguit 73 0 2 146 0 4

181 115 3 6 Don Lucas Lapor 38 3 10 76 7 8

182 2,061 6 4 Don Marcos Puyat 687 2 1 1,374 4 3

184 152 2 3 Captain Lazaro de Torres 50 6 1 101 4 2

185 254 0 10 Nicolas Rosario 84 5 10 163 3 0

186 47 5 5 Don Angel Manalit 15 7 1 31 6 4

187 547 5 1 Alférez Agustin Banal 182 4 4 365 0 9

188 384 3 11 Juan Pay, a Pampango 128 1 0 253 2 1

189 155 2 7 Francisco de Mendoza 51 6 2 103 4 5

190 648 6 11 Lorenzo Soler 216 2 3 432 4 8

191 176 3 9 Bernabé de Aguiar 58 6 7 117 5 2

192 648 4 9 Matheo de Vila 216 1 7 432 3 2

193 319 0 1 Antonio Viscayno 106 2 8 212 5 5

194 171 0 4 Simon Ronquilo 57 0 1 114 0 3

195 399 3 8 Alférez Damian Dalisay 133 1 2 266 2 6

199 920 4 6 Captain Juan Gonzalez Melon 306 6 10 613 5 8

200 414 5 3 Domingo Mangonay 138 1 9 276 3 6

Ordinary Salaries

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

59 569 6 10 Juan de Olea 189 7 7 379 7 3

60 1,019 1 3 Domingo Guimarano 339 5 9 679 3 6

90 66 7 10 Captain Cristobal Franco 22 2 7 44 5 3

91 622 7 8 Jorge Fernandez Grella 207 5 2 415 2 6

Department of Day Wages

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

33 175 6 0 Cristobal Ramas, calker 58 4 8 117 1 4

36 2,033 7 2 The natives of La Hermita 677 7 8 1,355 7 6

44 118 5 6 Julian de Norona 38 1 10 76 3 6

45 505 2 2 Julian de Norona 168 3 4 336 6 10

Extraordinary

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

16 666 5 4 The Indians of the village of Taguin 222 1 9 444 3 7

17 500 4 0 The Society of Jesus 166 6 8 333 5 4

Sea of Manila and Maluco

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

51 199 4 11 Mateo Mejias 66 4 0 133 0 11

52 476 2 8 Some Indians 158 6 2 317 4 6

54 339 4 10 Francisco de Esquivel 113 1 7 226 3 3

57 67 0 4 Four Indians 22 2 9 44 5 7

58 111 0 0 Juan Flores Merino 37 0 0 74 0 0

63 201 6 2 Sebastian Salvador 67 2 0 134 4 2

66 536 7 10 Jacinto Col 178 7 11 357 7 11

68 617 4 8 Pedro Nuñez 205 6 10 411 5 10

74 233 7 0 Domingo Macabata 77 7 8 155 7 4

Salaries of Alcaldes-mayor

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

23 97 0 0 Captain Francisco Sebastian Flores 32 2 8 64 5 4

24 350 6 11 Domingo de Urieto 116 6 7 233 7 4

26 87 7 0 Captain Geronimo Nuñez 29 4 4 58 4 8

27 53 0 0 Don Christobal de Valderrama 17 5 4 35 2 8

4,912 7 7

Pay-checks for the year 1636

Amount of pay-check Due to Amount paid Amount commuted

pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos pesos tomins granos

100 0 4 Juan de Valdimeso 33 2 9 66 5 7

303 2 6 Domingo Vilang, an Indian 101 0 10 202 1 8

109 5 11 Juan del Orduy 36 4 7 73 1 0

126 7 2 Juan del Orduy 42 2 0 84 0 10

91 7 10 Sargento-mayor Andres de Yllesoa 30 5 3 61 2 7

80 5 4 The said Yllesoa 26 7 1 53 6 3

138 0 11 Don Andres Arquerra 46 1 7 92 3 6

127 6 1 Juan Gomez Serrano 42 0 8 85 1 5

791 5 5 Don Pedro Tusiaya 263 7 1 527 6 0

97 1 6 Don Francisco de Agis 32 3 2 64 6 0

305 0 0 Don Miguel de Aguit 101 6 8 203 5 0

137 0 3 Manuel Simon 41 4 0 95 0 3

333 3 11 Pedro de Sisaua 111 1 3 222 2 6

610 0 0 Various Indians 203 0 0 407 0 0

128 6 0 Andres de Mesa 42 7 6 85 6 8

81 6 7 Don Julio Limbout 27 2 2 54 6 5

131 3 3 Andres Dimblá 43 6 5 87 4 10

207 7 5 Luis de Alcazar 69 2 5 138 5 0

156 6 9 Alférez Simon Cornejo 52 2 3 104 0 5

76 3 8 Don Alonso Mocangos 158 6 6 317 5 2

99 4 10 Alférez Esteban de Aldaco 33 1 7 66 3 3

3,095 1 6

The above is evident, and appears from the pay-checks above referred to, in each of which is the decree of the governor, by virtue of which the owners voluntarily commuted two-thirds of the face of each one, and I refer to it. In order that it may be apparent, and in obedience to the order of the said governor to that effect, I certify this in Manila, June five, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.

Juan Bautista de Çubiaga

We, the undersigned notaries, certify and attest that Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, whose rubric and name appear to be appended to this certification, is the auditor of accounts and results of the royal estate of these Filipinas Islands. As such, entire faith and credit are to be given to his certification, in and out of court. Manila, June thirteen, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six

Augustin de Valençuela, notary-public. Andres Martin Del Arroyo, royal notary. Juan Serrano, notary-public.

The governor’s decree. The official judges of the royal estate of his Majesty shall certify at the foot of this decree the amount in pesos which they have paid from the royal treasury under their charge from the year six hundred and thirty-two until June twenty-four of the past year, six hundred and thirty-five, on the old pay-checks for pay, salary, or for other purposes, which were owed to various persons; and which, by virtue of their powers and transfers, were paid in entirety by virtue of a decree of the government, to extraordinary persons. [This is to be given] summarily, each year by itself; and [must show] the sum that is distributed each year. Given at Manila, February ten, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.

Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera Francisco de Ortega

The reply of the royal officials. The official judges of the royal estate say that the general books, and the old pay-checks which have been paid by decree of the governors during the time to which your Lordship refers in your order, have been delivered to the auditing department of the exchequer; and that there is no reason for the compilation of such a report by them. They petition your Lordship to be pleased to refer the matter to the auditor of accounts, as he has possession of all the said papers. Manila, February sixteen, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.

Yñigo de Vlllareal Don Baltasar Ruiz de Escalona

Manila, February twenty-three, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six. Let the auditor [contador] Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, auditor of accounts and results in these islands, give the certification that is asked for by the decree of February ten of this year. At the foot of that decree is the rubric of Governor Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera.

Ortega

[Marginal note: “Certification of the auditor of accounts and amounts—102 thousand 596 pesos, 1 tomin, 8 granos paid in pay-checks with the authority of the owners.”]

In obedience to the above decree of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, governor and captain-general of these Filipinas Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia herein, I, Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, auditor of accounts and results of the royal estate of these said islands, certify that it appears from the original pay-checks which are in my possession belonging to the general accounts of the royal treasury of this city of Manila, for the period between years one thousand six hundred and thirty-two and the end of one thousand six hundred and thirty-five, that the official judges of this royal estate have paid from the said royal treasury a number of pay-checks that were legitimately owing to persons who were serving in the pay of his Majesty, and for other reasons, to other extraordinary persons, by virtue of authorities, cessions, and transfers made to them by the real owners to collect them from the said royal treasury—and who did collect them—and to satisfy with them certain balances of accounts and results that persons who received posts in these islands owed to his Majesty for various reasons. The pay-checks that here appear to have been paid to such persons by virtue of authorities, cessions, and transfers made to them by the real owners, are as follows:

Year of 1632

Pay of the Infantry of Terrenate

Pay of Seamen

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

24 300 Francisco Sanchez, sailor November 20, 1630 Captain Luis Alonso de Roa August 25 By order of Juan Niño de Tabora and report of the royal officials,as partial payment of the sum of money charged against Captain Luis de Contreras, overseer of Oton, as heir of the bondsman of the said overseer.

Year of 1633

Pay of the Infantry of Manila

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

6 325 2 3 The executors of Pedro de la Mata, deceased October 1, 1628 Father Fray Diego de Toro, O.P. January 19 Paid by decree of royal Audiencia for payment of a number of licenses for Sangleys.

123 343 0 7 Bartolome de Arana, deceased June 20, 1631 General Fernando de Ayala, his executor December 17 By decree of Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, as partial payment for charge [resulta] of 600 pesos against him for a bond that he gave to the royal treasury.

124 240 3 11 Agustin de la Cruz, soldier October 5, 1628 General Fernando de Ayala December 17 Idem.

War—Maluco

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

10 300 0 0 Alférez Rodrigo de Orozco June 25, 1624 Doña Cathalina de Santillan July 19 With authority from Orozco, and by decree of the royal Audiencia.

12 147 4 9 Francisco Rodriguez, a soldier December 31, 1632 Pedro de Cuellar August 2 With authority from Rodriguez and by decree of the royal Audiencia.

14 1,741 5 3 Captain Luis Martin, a Pampango May 10, 1623 The castellan, Gonzalo Ronquillo September 30 With authority from Martin, and by decree of Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

41 1,134 0 0 Garcia de Melo, a calker March 6, 1633 Don Pedro de Almonte December 30 Collects 600 pesos with authority from Melo, and by decree of Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

46 862 0 3 Marcos Hernandez, a soldier August 17, 1621 Captain Juan Nicolas January 3, 1634 Collects 410 pesos with authority from Hernandez, in payment of a charge against him [i.e., Nicolas] because he had received more pay than was due him; and without any decree.

47 400 0 0 Captain Nicolas Maniris February 1, 1631 Captain Juan Nicolas Collects 197 pesos for the same purpose as above.

5, 8 567 5 0 Various Sangleys At various dates The Sangleys February 17 By decree of the Audiencia, for the payment of 66 licenses, there being collected 497 pesos, 4 tomins, 6 granos.

22 457 7 0 Fifteen Sangley stonecutters of the island of Hermosa May 9, 1629 Fray Francisco de Acosta, procurator-general Order of St. Dominic September 17 With authority and transfer from the Sangleys, and by decree of Governor Don Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

Year of 1634

Extraordinary

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

13 750 5 4 The natives of the village of Bang-bang in the province of Panay 1601 Procurator-general of the Order of St. Augustine August 1 For the two-thirds of the cost of the church built in 1601 for the said village, which two-thirds are due from the king. The procurator collects 650 pesos, 4 tomins. Paid by decree of Governor Juan Cerezo do Salamanca, and with authority from the debtors.

15 333 2 8 The Indians of the village of San Miguel 1627 Procurator-general of the Society of Jesus September 18 They ought to have had 533 pesos, 2 tomins, 8 granos (two-thirds of the sum which they were taxed for the stone house built for the minister of the said village, and which his Majesty was to pay). Collected with authority and transfer of the Indians, and by decree of the governor.

18 300 The Indians of the village of Magaldan Procurator-general of the Order of St. Dominic September 14 Due for the third of the church built in the said village by permission of Governor Juan de Silva, and which the king was to pay. With authority and transfer of the Indians, and by decree of the governor.

Department of Day Wages

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

60 114 1 0 Francisco, slave to Diego Fernandez Torralva June 30, 1618 Diego Lopez Saavedra, executor of Torralva December 9 Due for daily wages on royal works. Collected to pay a charge against Pedro de Valdes. Without decree by the government.

Department of Ordinary Salaries

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

48–49 2,765 4 11 Licentiate Andres de Alcazar, former auditor of the royal Audiencia of Manila July 2, 1622 Alférez Juan de Mirabal Cedeño June 18 With authority and transfer from the heirs of the said auditor, and by decree of Governor Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

War—Manila

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

7 1,410 5 5 Captain Payo, a sailor 1631 Doña Ana Arias Giron January 18 Collects 410 pesos, with Payo’s authority, by virtue of a decree of Governor Juan Cerezo de Salamanca.

16 119 1 5 Pascual de Aguilar, deceased January 22,1626 The castellan, Gonzalo Ronquillo February 6 By decree of the above governor, to pay certain bonds that he owed to the royal treasury.

71 729 3 0 Juan Francisco de Medina At various dates Juan Dias de Yecla, clerk of the exchequer May 30 By decree of the above government.

73 Alférez Juan Hurtado

72 Juan Bernal Jaimes

84 503 5 3 Pablo de Cervantes December 12, 1626 Captain Pedro de Almonte June 19 Idem.

103 356 5 0 Alférez Juan Martin de Vargas October 8, 1630 Captain Antonio de Lezama, nephew of the factor of the royal estate July 6 Idem.

94 272 4 0 Sergeant Juan Perez de Aramburo November 5, 1625 Alexandro Lopez, procurator-general of the Society of Jesus June 30 Idem.

118 1,457 3 0 Pascual Rodríguez At various dates Juan de Santa Cruz, superintendent of the royal magazines at Manila. August 14 To pay for a quantity of mantas taken from said magazines.

119 Pablo de la Ossa

120 Andres Diaz

158 100 0 0 José Vidal September 26, 1634 Captain Juan Pimentel September 26 By decree of the governor.

168 203 0 3 Sergeant Diego de Orozco February 12, 1634 Diego de Vargas Cordero October 10 With authority and transfer from Orozco, and by decree of the governor, to pay a charge resulting against him in the visit.

170–176 1,481 3 1 Various soldiers At various dates Guillermo Chalón October 12 With authority from the soldiers, to be used as a partial payment of the balance in the account for the fitting of the ship “Trinidad,” which sailed from Nueva España in 1625. By decree of the governor, and report of the royal officials.

203 933 0 9 Captain Juan de Baquedano November 6, 1633 Fray Alonso Hidalgo procurator-general of the Order of St. Dominic, his executor December 9 Collects 250 pesos, by decree of the governor.

Pay of the infantry of Terrenate

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

2 300 0 0 Adjutant Juan Heredia Ormentegui March 20, 1628 Captain Silvestre de Aybar January 11 Collects 100 pesos, with authority of Heredia, and by decree of the governor.

7–23 8,995 0 0 Various soldiers At various dates The castellan, Gonzalo Ronquillo February 6 With authority from the soldiers, and by decree of the governor and visitor, in order to pay charges resulting against himself and uncle, in the visit.

24 416 4 11 Mattheo Sangal, a Pampango soldier February 22, 1620 General Antonio Carreño de Valdéz February 13 Collects 215 pesos, by decree of the governor.

27 240 0 0 Captain Juan Garcia March 12, 1620 Captain Francisco Hernandez March 4 Collects 40 pesos on account, by virtue of a decree.

28 857 0 0 Captain Gonzalo Portillo February 24, 1634 Himself March 11 Paid to him so that he might go to Caraga, where he had received an appointment as chief accountant, that money being necessary to him, and because he had to take his wife and family. By decree of the governor.

30 462 0 3 Marcos Hernandez August 17, 1621 Sargento-mayor Melchor de Cortaza March 27 With authority and transfer from Hernandez, and by decree of the governor, to pay for the articles given from the royal magazines.

32 100 0 0 Andres Panganiban April 26, 1626 Francisco Pangan March 30 Collects 47 pesos, 9 granos, to pay a charge made against him in the visit.

36 4,923 0 0 Juan de Ulex Usategui Captain Juan Sarmiento April 13 Collects 3,748 pesos, by decree of the governor, in order to pay the charge resulting against Sarmiento in the visit. The sum due was given to Usategui as alms by various soldiers of Terrenate from the pay owed them.

41 435 6 1 Alférez Nicolas Cavil March 11, 1631 Captain Jose de Naveda May 17 Collects 248 pesos, 4 tomins, 8 granos, by decree of the governor, to pay a charge [resulta] that he owed.

42 175 2 6 Juan Bacol, an Indian May 21, 1634 By decree of the governor.

43 190 3 0 Alférez Matheo Noque February 29, 1628 Juan Diaz de Yela May 30 Idem.

45 706 5 8 Alférez Luis Patil February 15, 1633 Vicente de los Reyes May 30 Idem.

56 57 1,145 5 3 Captain Pedro Cid February 19, 1620 His wife, as the guardian of his children June 30 Collects 155 pesos, by decree of the governor.

63 302 6 6 Alférez Juan Cabal November 23, 1619 Juan Diaz de Yela July 1 By decree of the governor.

Pay of the Infantry of Terrenate (continued)

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

68–71 934 0 0 Four soldiers At various dates Juan de Santa Cruz August 14 By decree.

72 201 4 11 Matheo Sacal February 22, 1620 General Antonio Carreño de Valdés August 18 By decree of the governor.

76 100 0 0 Adjutant Juan Sevillano Alférez Juan de Almansa August 26 With authority from Sevillano, and by decree of the governor.

84 85 835 4 2 Two soldiers At various dates Miguel de Villareal September 11 By decree of the governor, to pay a balance that Villarreal owed to his Majesty.

91–94 1,303 4 5 Four soldiers At various dates Captain Geronimo de Fuente Cortes October 5 By decree of the governor, to pay a charge [resulta] which he owed his Majesty.

102–104 458 4 10 Three soldiers At various dates Diego de Vargas Cordero October 10 By decree of the governor, to pay certain charges that he owed to his Majesty.

105–111 2,715 5 10 Seven soldiers At various dates Guillermo Chalon November 12 By decree of the governor, and report of the royal officials, to pay the balance of the fitting out [of the ship “Trinidad”] of the year 1625, which came to these islands.

112–114 749 7 10 Three soldiers At various dates Doña Ana de Cardona By decree of the governor, to pay the sum owed the royal treasury by her husband.

126 150 0 0 Francisco Lopez February 8, 1609 Procurator-general of the Order of St. Dominic November 3 By decree of the governor.

127 556 6 6 Geronimo de Lamonte January 23, 1632 Captain Pedro de Rojas November 3 Idem.

129 100 4 5 Alférez Juan Carreño de Quiroz Captain Juan de Olaez November 8 Idem.

130 187 1 5 Alférez Nicolas Cahil March 14, 1631 Alférez Francisco de Torres November 18 Collects 185 pesos, by decree of the governor.

132 200 0 0 Pedro de Salinas January 26, 1624 Procurator-general of the Society of Jesus November 28 Collects 100 pesos, by decree of the governor.

Pay of the Seamen

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

35 36 650 2 9 Two sailors At different dates Esteban Farfan May 31 By decree of the governor.

46 352 5 8 Bartoleme Pacheco March 16, 1616 Mario Geronimo, his heir June 12 Idem.

62 529 6 7 The heirs and executors of Juan Perez de Olea April 22, 1631 Lorenzo de Victoria July 3 Idem.

73 680 0 0 Juan Zamorano Juan de Santa Cruz August 14 By decree of the royal Audiencia, and report of the royal officials.

74 Francisco Reinoso

95 271 1 4 Juan Diaz January 2, 1620 Fray Geronimo de Belen, of the Order of St. Dominic October 6 By decree of the governor, with authority to pay a charge due the royal treasury from some poor Sangleys.

96 97 894 6 8 Two sailors At different dates Guillermo Galon To pay the balance of accounts owing from the fitting up of the ship above referred to.

98 152 5 8 The heirs of Bartholeme Pacheco, calker March 16, 1616 Alférez Juan Garcia October 25 By decree of the governor.

110 691 1 9 Jose Hernandez July 3, 1633 Licentiate Pedro Tagama December 12 Collects 350 pesos, by authority and decree of the governor.

Year of 1635

Factory Department

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

15 60 0 0 Antonio Perez, an Indian ropemaker August 31, 1617 Felipe Dalo April 18 Collects 42 pesos, 2 tomins, 6 granos, with authority, to pay a charge resulting against him in the visit.

War—Manila

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

11 371 5 0 Manuel Pacheco January 22, 1635 Archbishop Fray Fernando do Guerrero February 9 With authority and transfer.

12 173 3 4 Francisco Rodriguez January 24, 1635 Idem February 9 Idem.

15 302 4 3 Alférez Alonso Ruiz November 2, 1634 Captain Garcia de Cuadros February 17 By decree of the governor.

30 180 5 7 Juan Vidal November 19, 1629 Gonzalo Teran Collects 100 pesos, by decree of the governor.

36 467 6 11 Hernando Diaz de la Peña November 31, 1628 Melchor Perez March 31 Collects 200 pesos, with authority and transfer, and by decree of the governor.

37 269 7 4 Juan de Oria November 18, 1629 Captain Francisco Lopez March 26 Collects 150 pesos, by authority and decree of the governor.

47 131 2 1 Alférez Francisco de Albornos September 25, 1634 Blas de Raselez May 11 With authority and transfer, and by decree of the governor.

62 63 3 6 Bartholome de Espinosa June 14, 1627 Captain Luis Alonso de Roa June 16 With authority, to satisfy the charges resulting from the visit.

64–67 1,066 2 5 Four soldiers At various dates Captain Luis Alonso de Roa Juan de Olaez June 16 To satisfy the charges resulting from the visit.

66 [sic] 329 3 4 Alférez Diego de Vargas September 18, 1633 Alférez Francisco Beltran June 20 To satisfy the charges resulting from the visit. By authority and decree of the governor.

71 277 4 5 Alférez Domingo Perez November 2, 1634 Captain Alonso Tello de Guzman June 22 With authority and transfer, and by decree of the governor.

75 267 6 11 Hernando Diaz de la Peña November 1, 1628 Melchor Perez Idem.

111–113 846 7 0 Three soldiers At various dates Doña Cathalina de Gaona With authority and transfer, and by decree of the governor, to pay the charges resulting against her husband in the visit, to the treasurer, Juan Ruiz de Escalona.

War—Maluco

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

1 372 6 5 Andres Perez February 25, 1633 Doña Francisca Samaniego January 10 Collects 200 pesos, with authority of Perez, and by decree of the governor.

6 638 6 6 Alférez Rodriguez de Orozco February 19, 1625 Lope de Sosa January 22 Collects 300 pesos, by authority and decree of the governor.

10 411 0 3 Luis Latao, an Indian May 14, 1623 Archbishop Fray Hernando Guerrero February 9 By decree of the governor, to pay a debt and balance owed to his Majesty by the archbishop’s nephew, Captain Gabriel Velasquez, of whom the archbishop was executor.

11 12 145 2 3 Two soldiers At different dates Idem February 9 Idem.

13 193 2 0 Alférez Manuel Lorenzo September 12, 1633 Agustin Angel de Carvajal February 17 By decree of the governor.

15 16 428 4 0 Two soldiers At different dates Doña Ysabel de Guerra February 27 With authority and transfer, to pay a charge that she owed to the royal treasury.

21 779 2 0 Alférez Esteban de Espinosa December 20, 1634 Pedro de Almonte March 9 By decree of the governor.

23 250 0 0 Alférez Geronimo Soman March 23, 1628 Procurator of the Society of Jesus March 27 Collects 100 pesos, by authority and decree of the governor.

24–27 1,472 0 0 Four soldier At various dates Bartholome Gonzalez Guerra March 30 With authority of the owners, and by decree of the governor, to pay the balance of an account which he owed for the fitting up of a ship.

32 200 0 0 Alférez Alonso Vaez February 8, 1633 Juan de Santisteban Bracamonte April 28 Collects 62 pesos, 4 tomins, by decree of the governor.

41 47 137 4 0 Idem February 8, 1633 Captain Francisco de Atienza March 26 The balance of the 200 pesos above. By decree of the governor.

42 200 0 0 Alférez Diego Duarte March 5, 1633 Idem March 26 By decree of the governor.

48 283 7 4 Lucas Çapata April 29, 1634 Juan Colmenares July 5 Idem.

50 300 Juan de Heredia Juan Nicolas January 20, 1623 December 23, 1622 The executors of Juan de Orguëlles June 15 With authority, and by decree of the governor, to pay a charge resulting against Orguëlles.

43 pay-checks 10,621 1 5 Various soldiers At various dates Captain Luis Alonso de Roa June 16 By decree of the visitor, to pay charges that his father owed for bonds, and which resulted against him in the visit.

96 900 0 0 Seven soldiers At various dates Hipolito Centellas June 22 Collects 200 pesos, by authority and decree of the governor.

97 98 800 0 0 Two soldiers At various dates Hernando Zerrudo June 22 With authority from the soldiers, and by decree of the governor, to pay the charges [resultas] that he owed his Majesty.

99–103 1,412 1 11 Various soldiers At various dates The factor, Matheo de Heredia June 22 With authority and transfers, and by decree of the governor, to pay the charges resulting against him in the visit.

103–105 1,417 2 0 Three soldiers At various dates Doña Magdalena de Gaona, wife of the treasurer, Silvestre de Aibar June 22 By decree of the governor, to pay the charges resulting against the treasurer in the visit.

162–176 2,304 4 7 Various soldiers At various dates Doña Cathalina de Gaona, widow of the treasurer, Juan Ruiz de Escalona By decree of the governor, to pay the charges resulting against the treasurer in the visit.

Department of Day Wages

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

4 5 1,445 6 0 Amgui and Tachaucho, and other Sangleys July 30, 1633 February 9 For services on royal works. Collected by decree of the governor to pay general licenses for 1635.

Extraordinary

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

2 1,129 3 4 The natives of Estero de Lobo, in Cagayan 1618 Procurator-general of the Order of St. Dominic March 3 The amount (one-third) to be paid by his Majesty in the building of their church. Collects 207 pesos, with authority, and by decree of the governor, to pay 24 Sangley licenses.

33–43 5,117 7 3 Eleven sailors At various dates Admiral Luis Alonso de Roa June 16 With authority and transfer from the sailors, to pay the charges resulting against him in the visit, and which he owed his Majesty.

44 341 1 9 Jose Hernandez, a sailor July, 1633 Licentiate Pedro Cegavia June 22 By authority and decree of the governor.

45–47 1,921 5 9 Three sailors At various dates Hernando Cerrido, constable of the royal Audiencia With authority and transfer from the soldiers, and by decree of the governor, to pay charges resulting against him in the visit.

Department of Ordinary Salaries

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

11 20,000 0 0 The property of deceased persons for loans made to royal treasury 1624 Alférez Juan de Mirabal Cedeño June 22 Borrowed from the property of Licentiate Andres de Alcaraz, former auditor of the royal Audiencia. Repaid on account, 14,476 pesos, by decree of the governor, and with authority and transfer from the heirs of the said auditor.

Salaries of Alcaldes-mayor

Number of pay-check Amount of pay-check Due to Expiration of service Paid to Date of payment Remarks

pesos tomins granos

18 111 3 8 Alférez Francisco de los Rios Coronel, ex-corregidor of Catanduanes December 6, 1629 Juan de Colmenar June 5 With authority, and by decree of the governor.

Accordingly, all the aforesaid is obvious, and appears from the said pay-checks, whose originals remain in my possession, to which I refer. In order that it might be on record, I certify it at the order of the said governor and captain-general, Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza. Manila, April 15, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six. Amount 102,596 pesos, 1 tomin, 8 granos.

Juan Bautista de Çubiaga

We, the undersigned notaries, certify that Juan Bautista de Çubiaga, whose mark and name appear at the end of this certification of eleven pages, is auditor of accounts and results of the royal estate of the Filipinas Islands, as he styles himself. To the certifications and papers of these and other records that he has despatched, touching the said his office, entire faith and credit has been, and is, given, in and out of court. In order that such may be obvious, we signed this in Manila, April thirty, one thousand six hundred and thirty-six.

Alfonso Baeza del Rio, royal notary.

Francisco de la Torre, notary of the royal crown.

Andres Martin del Arroyo, notary of the royal crown.

Reduction of expenses

Sire:

In my endeavor to be a good steward of your Majesty’s estate, having noticed and considered the many expenses and the lack of profit that you encounter in these islands, solely in order to maintain in them the Catholic religion, I have thought it advisable to reduce some of the expenses—as your Majesty will please to have examined by means of the orders for the said reduction, and which your Majesty will please approve or censure, according as you judge it most for the good of your service. My only desire is that God will not ask account from me for doing it badly, and for unjustly causing expense to your Majesty. Although I desire to render your Majesty so just an account, I could not fear it so much as the first, if I gave it as many others of us who serve you do.

I thought it advisable to save the pay of six hundred pesos per year, which a captain receives for serving [as such] in the company that he raised in Mexico; and although my officers are careful to station and retire the guards, and serve as those of the master-of-camp, I see to it that they do it well, and that they are not derelict in their duty. I have given the same orders to the governor and sargento-mayor of the forts of Terrenate, who also have command of two companies; the governor and sargento-mayor of the island of Hermosa, of two other companies; the warden of Camboaga [i.e., Zamboanga], of another; and the alcaldes-mayor of Oton, Cibu, Nueva Segovia, and Caraga, who have a company together, and command their men in the forts in the above-named islands. Also in this army, from now on, a captain will have command of another company, and will receive the pay of the chief guard of the Parián, which will be paid from the communal fund of the Chinese, and his pay will be saved to the treasury of your Majesty. The captains who will serve without pay from your Majesty’s royal treasury will thus amount to eleven; and hence a great sum of money will be saved by the end of the year, as well as the [expense for] the post of sargento-mayor of this army, which is held by my nephew, Don Pedro Hurtado de Corcuera—who serves without pay, together with a company of thirty horsemen, whom I thought to be very expedient for your Majesty’s service, for the following reasons. First, just as I caused and ordered the raising of four companies among the citizens of this city, in the infantry, in order that they might exercise themselves in the squadrons, and be ready for any emergencies that may arise, I also had two companies of fifty horse apiece raised—one made up of the nobility of the city, who can keep horses, and the other of the overseers of the royal stockyards—all armed with spears. In order that the above horsemen might have someone to instruct and exercise them, this company of thirty horsemen was enlisted. The actual officers in it are captain, alférez, and lieutenant. It would be very advisable to raise the number to fifty, if that would be agreeable to your Majesty; for besides being necessary for the guard of the coast, and to keep these nations—the Chinese, Japanese, and Indians—in check, they patrol the city nightly, and shut and open the city gates, on horseback. For that reason the poor infantrymen are excused from patrol duty, and from locking the gates, and thus from going about almost every night knee-deep in water, from which many diseases and deaths ensued; that has been avoided by this means. Experience has demonstrated, also, how useful and profitable these cavalrymen may be when stationed as a troop among the artillery on a campaign, for skirmishing—for which they are greatly esteemed in the Flandes army; and, at the very least, the sight of them strikes terror in those present, and the noise made by them in those absent. Will your Majesty be pleased to approve and confirm this company of cavalrymen, and grant permission that it consist of fifty soldiers. Notwithstanding the savings and the reductions, of which I inform your Majesty, not only is there no expense incurred in this company but there is even a saving of money for the following reasons. In recent times there have been eight companies of infantry for the guard of the city; but immediately upon my arrival, I reduced them to six. When I sent the reënforcements to Terrenate—for two hundred Spaniards went there in three companies, and one hundred Pampangos (who are as good and as faithful here as are the Burgundians in Flandes)—and the guard of the city remained in four companies, seeing that it was impossible to cover the posts and to stand guard with so few men, I ordered two hundred Pampangos to be enrolled into two companies, so that now there are the six hundred necessary guardsmen. The Pampangos are in place of the two hundred Spaniards who went [to Terrenate]. Seeing that the said Spaniards are lacking, there is nothing but to appeal to the Pampangos; they are being instructed, and are managing their arms in a manner that makes me very well satisfied with them. Both the captains and other officers, and the soldiers, receive half the pay of the Spaniards. Thus the two companies of Pampangos cause your Majesty an expense of ten thousand pesos, and that of the cavalry seven thousand, making a total of seventeen thousand pesos. The two infantry companies which were here before caused an expense of twenty-two thousand pesos or thereabouts; so, if the former expense was this amount, and that of the Pampangos and the cavalry now is seventeen thousand, there is an annual saving of five thousand pesos to your Majesty. There are thirty more soldiers than before. Will your Majesty please have this approved and look favorably upon it; and believe that I am spending your Majesty’s revenue with great care, and that I can have no scruple of conscience in what I am doing. Your Majesty will learn the truth of this by experience, in a short time. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Sire, your vassal kisses your Majesty’s feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

Revision of pay and rations made September 4, 1635

Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, knight of the Order of Alcantara, member of his Majesty’s Council, member of the Council of War in the States of Flandes, governor and captain-general of these Filipinas Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia, resident in the city of Manila:

From the discovery of these islands until now there has been no instruction or fixed order given by his Majesty in regard to the pay and rations which have been and ought to be given to many of the persons who have served and who shall serve in his service in various posts of the sea and in other employments, both in this city of Manila and along the coast and in the port of Cavite, in the shipyards for the construction of ships which are built for the royal service in the provinces of these islands, in the presidios of the islands, and in the voyages to and from Nueva España, Terrenate, the island of Hermosa, Macan, India, and other places; but the governors my predecessors, and the councils of the treasury, made some regulations, by virtue of decrees from his Majesty (as the matter was referred to them, so that they could decide on what was best). Some of the wages paid were thus very greatly increased, thereby causing, from that time until the present, a heavy burden and debt on the royal estate. So heavy has been this burden that the royal estate has come to so low an ebb by reason of some salaries that are especially excessive, that it is obliged to demand loans quite ordinarily from the inhabitants of this said city; and, because of the heavy loans that have been made for many years, it has been impossible to free itself from its many debts. Now therefore, on account of all these considerations, and because the matter has been examined and considered attentively, as well as the little profit of the royal patrimony in these islands (or rather its many expenses) because of the constant reënforcements of men, money, ammunition, food, and other things that must be sent to the presidios of the islands (which, being many and so distant and separated from one another), meet a much greater cost and expense than his Majesty is told—in especial the great cost of the preparation and equipment of the two ships sent annually to Nueva España for the usual reënforcement of men and the other things that maintain this land; and almost the chief reason for which those ships sail and are sent seems not to be for reënforcements, but only to carry and to bring back the goods of the inhabitants and merchants of Manila, in which they traffic to the extent that is well known, and to so much greater a sum than his Majesty has permitted, at so great an expense to the royal estate, and little or no profit from the duties and freights that they owe), it is advisable to revise and adjust some of the posts and wages and rations, to abolish some and add others, and to create some new ones which are obligatory and necessary for the service of his Majesty. Therefore, and because it is advisable, according to the present condition of matters, and in order to relieve the said royal treasury and to help it as far as may be possible (as his Majesty commands by various decrees), and in order to attend better to what is obligatory and necessary, and to see that the royal treasury be not pledged so deeply as it has been hitherto and is now, he ordered by a decision communicated and conferred over with persons zealous for his Majesty’s service—and he did so order—the official judges of the royal estate of these islands, and all the other persons who administer the royal revenues, both in the royal treasuries of the garrisons at Terrenate and the island of Hermosa, under the titles of accountants, factors, and royal officials, and in the other provinces (whence they come to this royal treasury of Manila to report what has entered into their possession)—each one in so far as it concerns him, or can concern him—to give the necessary orders in his Majesty’s name, so that from the first of the month of October next of this present year, and thenceforth, all shall understand what is to be paid and given to the persons who shall serve his Majesty in the posts mentioned in this order, and which will be mentioned in every case. That sum is that which they are to receive as their proper pay; and it must be observed and kept in the following form.

The assayer and weigher of the royal treasury of this city shall serve for two hundred and fifty pesos per annum, without any ration.

The executor of the royal estate shall receive one hundred and fifty pesos per annum, without any ration.

The keeper of the provisions in the royal magazines of this city shall receive a salary of three hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The keeper of the provisions in the royal magazines of the port of Cavite shall receive a salary of three hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The keeper of the royal magazines, provisions, arms, and ammunition for the forts of Terrenate shall receive a salary of three hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The keeper of the provisions, arms, and ammunition for the presidio of the island of Hermosa shall receive three hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The keeper of the provisions, arms, and ammunition for the port of Yloylo shall receive a salary of three hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The clerk of the royal magazines of this city shall receive one hundred and fifty pesos per annum, without any ration.

The shore-master of the port of Cavite and of all the naval dock-yards there shall receive a salary of six hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The overseer at the royal works of all the day-laborers and assistants at the said port of Cavite shall receive a salary of six hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The artillery founder of this city shall receive a salary of five hundred pesos per annum, without any ration or anything else.

The shipbuilder and the master-workman of the works at the port of Cavite shall receive a salary of six hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The manager of the powder that is made for his Majesty on the other side of the river shall receive a salary of four hundred pesos per annum, without anything else.

The manager of the rigging which is made in the province of Balayan for his Majesty shall receive a salary of two hundred and fifty pesos per annum, without any ration.

The castellan of the fort of Santiago in this city of Manila shall receive a salary of six hundred pesos per annum, and shall hold the place by virtue of regular appointment. He who exercises that office ad interim shall receive one-half that sum as his Majesty has ordered.

The lieutenant of the said fort of Santiago in this city, who has hitherto been appointed at a salary of four hundred and twenty pesos, is now removed and discharged; for there is no need of him in the said fort, since there is an alférez and a sergeant.

There shall be two infantry adjutants in the forts of Terrenate. One shall receive a salary of three hundred and sixty pesos per annum, while the other shall receive ninety-six pesos per annum—the pay of a simple soldier. They shall receive nothing else.

All the Pampango soldiers who serve in the forts of Terrenate shall receive annual pay at the rate of forty-eight pesos of eight reals apiece. They shall be in two companies, which shall be under the command of the master-of-camp and his sargento-mayor, each of whom shall receive a salary of two hundred and fifty pesos per annum.

The two alférezes of the said Pampango nation shall receive an annual pay of one hundred and fifty pesos apiece.

Each of the sergeants of the said [Pampango] nation shall receive an annual pay of one hundred and twenty pesos.

There shall not be an artillery captain in the forts of Terrenate, for that place is abolished.

The surgeon of the royal hospital for the said forts of Terrenate shall receive a salary of six hundred pesos per annum, without any ration.

The field captain of the said forts shall receive an annual pay of one hundred and fifty pesos, without anything else.

The military notary of the said forts, who has hitherto received a salary of two hundred pesos per annum, shall not receive that sum from the said day and thenceforth; and the accountant of the said forts shall under no consideration pay it to him.

The four substitutes [entretenimientos], who were reduced to their [opportunities for] advantage in the said forts of Terrenate, shall be given nothing by way of additional pay or allowances; and they shall not be paid in advance from the said day and thenceforth by the accountant of those forts.