erra-Firme, that shall have been taken there from Filipinas, even
if the duties should be paid according to the rules and ordinances;
for it is our purpose and will that no goods shipped from China and
the Filipinas Islands be consumed in the said provinces of Peru and
Tierra-Firme. Whatever shall be found in the possession of any person,
we order to be confiscated, applied, and regulated, as contained
in this law. [Felipe II--Madrid, January 11, 1593, and July 5,
1595. Felipe III--Valladolid, December 31, 1604.]

Law LXIV

It is advisable for our service to have constant reports on what passes
in the trade and commerce between the Filipinas and Nueva Espana,
in order to ascertain and discover whether it continues to increase,
and what kinds of merchandise are traded, their prices, and in what
money or material. Accordingly we order the viceroys of Nueva Espana
to send to our royal Council of the Indias in each trading fleet,
a copy of the registers that the ships brought from those islands,
and also of those of the ships sent thither; and all shall be made
with great distinctness and clearness. [Felipe II--Madrid, January 17,
1593; and Toledo, June 9, 1596.]

Law XXVIII

The viceroys, presidents, and auditors, and all other officers of
justice shall make efforts to find all those who shall have been sent
to Filipinas to reside during the time of their obligation, who have
remained in Nueva Espana and other parts of their jurisdiction, and
shall force them with all rigor to go to reside in those islands,
proceeding against their persons and properties and executing
the penalties that they shall have incurred. The fiscals of our
Audiencia in Manila shall plead what is advisable in regard to the
aforesaid. [Felipe II--Madrid, February 20, 1596.]

Law LIV

We order that the governors of Filipinas shall not allow slaves to
be sent to Nueva Espana as a business transaction or for any other
reason--except that, when the governor goes there, his successor may
give him permission to take as many as six slaves with him; to each of
the auditors who shall make the voyage, four; and to other respected
persons, merchants with capital, and officials of our royal treasury
who go and do not return, two. We order the viceroy, alcalde-mayor and
officials of Acapulco, to see to the fulfilment and execution of this
law, and to confiscate the slaves in excess of this number. [Felipe
II--Madrid, April 10, 1597]

Law XL

W