m
and the Audiencia jointly. The shipment of money from New Mexico to
Filipinas in excess of the amount allowed is forbidden under heavy
penalties. The governors of Filipinas must keep the shipyards well
equipped and provided. The ships that sail thence to Nueva Espana
must depart in June; and careful account must be taken, by special
officials, of all goods in the cargoes, and of all that the vessels
carry on the return trip.

A group of royal decrees and orders occurs during the years 1633-35,
concerning various interests of the Philippines. The viceroy of Nueva
Espana is ordered (September 30, 1633) to see that the seamen needed
in the islands be well treated at Acapulco, and allowed to invest some
money in the Mexican trade. The governor of the Philippines is warned
(March 10, 1634) to see that the lading of vessels in that trade be
equitably allotted to the citizens. The viceroy is directed, at the
same time, to send more reenforcements of men to the islands. The
moneys granted to the city for its fortifications have been diverted
to the general fund; the governor is notified (September 9, 1634)
to correct this, and, two months later, to prevent the Portuguese
of Macao from trading in the islands. Again (February 16, 1635)
he is directed to prevent people from leaving the Philippines, and
religious from going to Japan; and at the same time is despatched
a reply to the Audiencia regarding some matters of which they had
informed the king. The governor is ordered (November 5, 1635) to see
that the garrisons in Ternate are regularly changed.

Juan Grau y Monfalcon, procurator-general for the Philippines at the
Spanish court, memorializes the king (1635) regarding the importance
of those islands to Spain, which country should preserve her domain
there, not only for the service of God and the spread of the Catholic
faith, but for the increase of the royal revenues. The writer gives
a summary of the Chinese population in the islands, and the extent
of their trade; the number of Indians paying tribute, and their
products. The Spaniards of Manila are greatly impoverished by their
losses in conflagrations and shipwrecks, and need royal aid. If it
be not given them, Manila will be lost to the Dutch, whose increasing
power and wealth in the Orient is described. Especially do they request
the abolition of the additional duty of two per cent on goods exported
to Nueva Espana, which they are unable to pay. The history of this t