lib. ix, tit. xlv; the third, from lib. vi.,
tit. xii (ley xl). The second is obtained from _Annuae litterae_
(Dilingae, 1610), pp. 507-532.

_Translations_: The first and third of these documents are translated
by James A. Robertson; the second, by Henry B. Lathrop, of the
University of Wisconsin.

LAWS REGARDING NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE

[The following laws are translated from _Recopilacion de leyes_,
lib. ix, tit. xxxxv, "Concerning the navigation and commerce of the
Filipinas Islands, China, Nueva Espana, and Peru." [1] The various laws
of the _Recopilacion_ are not arranged chronologically, but they are
here thus given--retaining, however, the number of each law. Those laws
given in the present installment range in date between 1583 and 1609,
those beyond the latter date being reserved for a future volume. Some
of the laws, as shown by various dates, were promulgated more than
once, either in the original form, or possibly amended. When there
is more than one date, the chronological order follows the earliest
of these.]

Law LVIII

The appraisements and registers that shall be made of the merchandise
shipped in the vessels despatched from Filipinas to Nueva Espana
and other places, shall be made solely by the officials of our
royal exchequer. The distribution [of cargo] that shall be made
in the vessels of the said islands, and of the merchandise shipped
on our account, and the appointment and examination of the pilots,
masters, and other officials, shall be made in the presence of the
aforesaid persons; and the laws ordained by this titulo shall be
observed. [Felipe II--San Lorenzo, June 14, 1583.]

Law XXXV

It having been committed to, and charged upon, the governor
and captain-general of the Filipinas that he should endeavor to
introduce, in the exchange and barter for the merchandise of China,
trade in other products of those islands, in order to avoid, when
possible, the withdrawal of the great sums of reals which are taken
to foreign kingdoms, the governor executed it in the form and manner
that he considered most fitting; and a method called _pancada_ [2]
was introduced, which has been observed and executed until now. It is
our will that that method be observed and kept, without any change,
until we order otherwise. [Felipe II--Anover, August 9, 1589; Toledo,
January 25, 1596.]

Law LXVI

We order that a duty be collected on the first and subsequent sales
or all the merchandise s