LAW LXXIX

We permit the viceroys, auditors, governors, royal officials, and
government agents who shall have been appointed, and who have to go
by way of the South Sea from Nueva Espana to Petu, and from there to
Nueva Espana, to take their property registered, if they swear that it
is their own and not another's under penalty of incurring confiscation
[of the same]. [Felipe IV--Madrid (?), October 5, 1626.]

LAW LXII

We declare and order that the valuation of merchandise taken to Nueva
Espana from Filipinas shall be made in Mejico by an accountant of
the bureau of accounts, an officer of our royal treasury of the said
city, and one of the members of the consulate of the said city. The
viceroy shall appoint them every year, one fortnight before the said
valuations are to be made, and he shall have special care in the
making such appointment. In case that there shall be any discord
between the three said persons, the viceroy shall appoint another
accountant and royal official other than the first, so that these may
meet with them. That measure which has two votes shall be adopted,
even though they be but two who are in complete harmony. And if
they should not be in harmony, and should be two to two of different
opinions, they shall have recourse to the viceroy; and the decision
of that side with which he shall agree shall be put into execution,
without reply or contradiction. [3] [Felipe IV--Madrid, June 4, 1627.]

LAW LXVII

We order all the judges and justices before whom Chinese cloth shall
be denounced as being contraband, not to condemn it as confiscated;
but to send it to these kingdoms in a separate account directed to
the president and official judges of the House of Trade of Sevilla,
so that it may be sent from there to the treasurer of our Council of
the Indias. Thus shall it be done on all the occasions that arise. [4]
[Felipe III--Madrid, April 18, 1617; Felipe IV--Madrid, March 3, 1629.]

LAW L

The commander and officers whom the governor of Filipinas appoints
for the ships sailing to Nueva Espana, shall not be aided with pay
for more than four months, both in Mejico and Filipinas. At the
termination of the trip, their accounts shall be balanced, and the
remainder for the time while they shall have served, and no more,
shall be paid them. [Felipe IV--Madrid, December 14, 1630.]

LAW XIII

Our fiscal of the Audiencia of Filipinas shall, according to the
settled custom, be present at th