e order that there be but one commander and one lieutenant (who
shall be admiral) for the two ships from Filipinas to Nueva Espana;
that each ship shall take no more than one military captain, besides
the ship master and as many as fifty effective and useful soldiers
in each ship with pay, and the sailors necessary to make the voyage
properly each way--who shall be efficient and examined--and one pilot
and assistant to each ship; for both ships one purser [_veedor_]
and accountant. All appointments to the said posts shall be made by
the governor and captain-general alone, without the intervention of
the archbishop, or of any other person, notwithstanding what shall
have been provided to the contrary. We order that choice be made from
among the most respected and influential inhabitants of those islands,
and of those most suitable for the said offices and the duties that
the appointees must exercise. If they shall not be such, the matter
shall be made an article in the governor's residencia. [Felipe
III--Barcelona, June 15, 1599; Valladolid, December 31, 1604; San
Lorenzo, April 22, 1608; Madrid, May 23, 1620.]

Law XXVII

We charge and order the viceroys of Nueva Espanna that the troops
that they send to Filipinas be useful, and that they go armed; and
that the men go to the governor of the islands to ask for the pay that
the captains take from their soldiers. In regard to this the governor
shall take legal action and punish those whom it touches. [Felipe
III--Denia, August 16, 1599.]

Law XXIII

The governors of Filipinas are wont to take the artillery and arms
from the ships that sail from Nueva Espana. Inasmuch as the vessels
return unarmed and without the necessary defense, we order the said
governors not to take, or allow to be taken, from the said ships the
artillery, arms, supplies, or war-materials that those ships carry
for their defense on the return voyage, for it is not advisable to
risk what is so important. [Felipe III--Valladolid, July 15, 1601.]

Law XXXIX

Since there are skilled and examined pilots for the Filipinas line,
those who are not such shall not be admitted in our ships and other
craft. [Felipe III--Valencia, December 31, 1603.]

Law XVI

The utmost diligence shall be taken in the port of Acapulco to
ascertain and discover the reals, silver, and other things taken to
the Filipinas, and our officials of the said port shall take account
of it all. They shall advise the gover