ndise to Nueva Espana, and
made very great profits on it. All this has ceased with the coming of
the Portuguese, who not only give no credit, but sell the merchandise
for excessive prices. If they do not receive the pay that they wish
for the goods, they send them to Mexico at their own account. As they
are settled in Manila, they keep the merchandise from one year to
another. The Sangleys did not do that; for, in order to be able to
return, they sold the goods at very suitable prices, or gave credit
for them, by which the inhabitants made considerable profits. As that
profit has ceased, they are becoming very poor, and have no capital,
and there is no help for it. What they gained the Portuguese now
gain; and the latter withdraw thrice as much money from Manila as the
Sangleys did. The latter exchanged a great part of their merchandise
for products of the country, which the Portuguese do not do, but take
away the money in bars and reals. And although they allege in their
favor, in order to continue the trade, that they are vassals of his
Majesty, and that it is right for them to trade and traffic in Manila
as in Castilla and in other parts of Espana, the fact is excluded that
the inhabitants of that city have conquered those islands and shed
their blood in that conquest, and always have arms in their hands for
their defense. It is right that they alone should have this advantage
(as your Majesty orders by the many decrees which have been despatched
in regard to this), and not the Portuguese, who have and have always
had places to trade and traffic in Portuguese India, Japon, China,
and many other parts. It is not right to snatch the bread from the
hands of the inhabitants of Manila, who have no other trade or means
of gain save that in the merchandise of China. If relief is not given
in this very quickly, all the commerce of that city will be destroyed,
and it is now so fallen for this reason. Besides, it is prohibited
to the inhabitants of those islands by decrees, and in particular
by one of the year 593, to go to the Canton fair or to China, as the
Portuguese go to buy. It is also prohibited by many decrees for any
Portuguese, notwithstanding that they are vassals of your Majesty,
to trade or traffic in the provinces of the Indias without special
permission. This same thing must be observed in Manila, just as it
is observed in Nueva Espana and Piru.

Certain reasons that were presented having been examined in the ro