f merchandise. If this
be exceeded, claims may be made against them in their residencias at
the end of their voyages. [Felipe III--Madrid, May 29, 1620.]

LAW LXXVII

Some ships sail from the ports of Callao and Guayaquil to Nicaragua
and Guatemala, under pretext of going for pitch and other things, and
then often go from there to the port of Acapulco to lade Chinese cloth,
in return for a great sum of silver which they carry, practicing many
efforts and frauds. We order that under no consideration may any ships
or other vessels from the said ports or provinces of Peru go to that
of Acapulco; and that the viceroys shall order and take what measures
may be necessary so that this be obeyed and observed. They shall impose
what penalties they choose; and they shall execute those penalties on
the transgressors in a severe and exemplary manner. [Felipe IV--San
Lorenzo, October 20, 1621.]

LAW XXXVIII

We order and command the governors of Filipinas not to permit private
persons of those islands to despatch ships to Macan, Malaca, Siam,
Camboja, and other parts of that archipelago, or to take seamen or
soldiers in them; for it is advisable to have ships and a fleet ready
for the defense of Manila, which can be defended or garrisoned in no
other way; and they shall attend to the correction of this as a thing
so important, and shall give such orders as are most expedient. [Felipe
IV--Madrid, December 31, 1622.]

LAW LXIII

By reason of haste in the despatch [of the ships], the clerks of the
register are usually left, through forgetfulness, with some registers
which have been made of the merchandise; and, as the registers do
not appear, the judges condemn the goods as confiscated. We order the
viceroy and auditors of our royal Audiencia of Mejico that, when this
happens, they shall enact justice [1] so that the parties' right to
collect it shall remain free. [Felipe IV--Madrid, October 9, 1623.]

LAW XXII

The governors and captains-general of the Filipinas Islands and Maluco,
and our other judges and justices, shall observe and shall cause to
be observed all the privileges, immunities, and exemptions of the
artillerymen on that route and commerce, and of those who live at
the ports, forts, and fortifications, which for that reason belong
to them, in respect to the trade of the Indias from these kingdoms
to those islands, in accordance with titulo 22 of this book. [2]
[Felipe IV--Madrid, December 6, 1624.]