rises from this
traffic and trade. The persons thus appointed shall keep a book,
in which they shall enter the amount of money invested each time,
the price at which each class of merchandise is valued, among what
persons the merchandise is divided, and the amount that falls to the
share of each. The governor shall take particular pains to ascertain
and discover how the said deputies make use of their commission. He
shall not allow them to be rechosen the following year. He shall
send annually a report, signed by them, of all the aforesaid to
our council, and another to the viceroy of Nueva Espana. [Felipe
II--Madrid, January 11, 1593.]

Law XLIV

The apportionment of the permitted amount of two hundred and fifty
thousand pesos, conceded to the inhabitants of the Filipinas
Islands, must be made among them, and the whole amount must be
registered. Endeavor shall be made to have less than one third part
return in gold; and the governor shall prevent and take precautions
against any fraud or deceit, and shall take what measures he deems
expedient. This also we charge upon the viceroy of Nueva Espana in
whatever pertains to him. [Felipe II--Madrid, January 11, 1593.]

Law LXVIII

We declare and order that the Chinese merchandise and articles which
have been and shall be shipped from Filipinas to Nueva Espana, can
and shall be consumed there only, or shipped to these kingdoms after
paying the duties. They cannot be taken to Peru, Tierra-Firme, or any
other part of the Indias, under penalty of confiscation of all those
found and apprehended in the possession of any person whatever, and
shall be applied to our exchequer, the judge, and the denouncer. [4]
[Felipe II--Madrid, January 11, 1593; Felipe IV--Madrid, February
10, 1635.]

Law LXXI

We order and command, that under no consideration in any manner can
any ship go from the provinces of Peru, Tierra-Firme, Guatemala,
Nueva Espana, or any other part of our Western Indias, to China to
trade or traffic, or for any other purpose; nor can any ship go to
the Filipinas Islands, except from Nueva Espana, in accordance with
the laws of this titulo: under penalty of the confiscation of the
ship; and its value, money, merchandise, and other things of its
cargo shall be sent to these kingdoms in accordance with law 67 [5]
of this titulo, and thus it shall be executed. We prohibit and forbid
any merchandise being taken from Nueva Espana to the provinces of Peru
and Ti