is city; that the procurator-general of the city attend to all the
above, and that they appoint as commissaries those deputed to inform
the governor. Thereupon, Captain Diego Diaz, regidor of this city,
voted, and said that his opinion is that this affair is one of great
importance; and that it seems right to discuss and treat of it with
the inhabitants of the community, who are the ones interested. This
is his vote and opinion. The governor is requested to be pleased
to give permission for the holding of an open cabildo, so that
those interested, as they are the ones whom it concerns so greatly,
may declare therein the resolution that ought to be taken in this
matter. For if the suspension of the coming of the goods from Macan
were to happen in any other way, and at the same time those of China
should not come, the people would generally complain; and in order that
they may not do that, let them be participants in the resolution that
shall be taken. In such condition was this vote, and all signed it.

_Copy of a section of a letter written to his Majesty, August 14,
1633, by the governor of Filipinas_

The trade of Great China also has declined, inasmuch as the Portuguese
of Macan have become masters of it, as they are so near; and as they
are admitted here, contrary to all good government, they retail
the products which the said Chinese formerly brought direct. That
causes a great scarcity in these provinces, all of which results
in our loss, and in the gain of China, because of the great advance
in price over the [former] cheapness--[an excess], moreover, which
they carry to their own land. The relief that I believe can be had,
although some privation may be felt in the beginning, is that your
Majesty prohibit the trade of Macan with Manila, and decree that
Portuguese be not admitted into this government. Besides having the
above result, your Majesty's duties will increase; and the commerce
of China with the island of Hermosa can be established by this route,
and become of importance to your Majesty, although up to the present
it has been only an expense. [_Decree of the Council_: "Collect the
papers treating of this matter and the chart of the island of Hermosa;
and together with this section take it all to the fiscal, and bring
it to the Council with what he shall say. November 25, 1634."]

[_Note_: "The fiscal declares that he regards it as very unadvisable
to make any innovation for the present, and that