Note 45 — Grau y Monfalcon’s Informatory Memorial of 1637
James Alexander Robertson translation
1. The tributes of the encomiendas which are assigned to the crown, paid by not only the natives of the islands but the Chinese and Japanese, are annually valued—in reals, and in products which proceed from 44,763 tributarios—at ten reals apiece 53,715 pesos.
2. In the encomiendas of private persons, who, as has been said, possess 84,439 tributes, there is a [royal] situado of two reals for each tribute—only eight being reserved for the encomenderos, which are valued annually at 21,107 and one-half pesos 21,107 pesos.
3. The licenses which are given annually to the Sangleys, in order that they may remain for some time in the islands, amount to about 14,000, which at eight pesos that are paid for them as fees, amount to 112,1000 pesos 112,000 pesos.
4. The tribute of these 14,000 Sangleys at five reals apiece—four for the tribute, and one for the situado—are worth 8,250 pesos 8,250 pesos.
5. The fifth and tenth of the gold that is collected from what is declared by the natives, is 750 pesos 750 pesos.
6. The ecclesiastical tithes—which are collected for the royal treasury, because all the clergy are paid from it, as has been seen—amount to 2,750 pesos. 2,750 pesos.
7. The fares for passengers, who leave the islands for other parts in royal ships, 350 pesos. 350 pesos.
8. The fines of the exchequer are worth 1,000 pesos annually. 1,000 pesos.
9. The customs duties on the merchandise of China, India,45 and other parts, which are imported and exported, 38,000 pesos. 38,000 pesos.
10. The imposts and freight charges, customs duties, and other charges that are collected in Nueva España on the merchandise exported annually from the islands, are worth 300,000 [309,000—MS.] pesos which is reckoned as income of the Filipinas, for those islands cause it. Accordingly, it is ordered by a royal decree of February 19, 606, that the proceeds from this department be remitted to Manila, and that so much less a sum be sent from Mexico; besides which they ought to make good to it 30,000 more, because of what in Nueva España proceeds from the traffic and commerce of this merchandise for the excise duty and other imposts. 300,000 pesos.
[309,000—MS.]
11. It cannot be ascertained what the mesada taxes in the ecclesiastical estate, and the half-annats in the secular, are worth; nor that concerning sales and resignations of office, and other petty transactions, for all of which a figure of 6,000 pesos annually is set down...... 6,000 pesos.