lacion_)--1681,
the date of first edition of _Recopilacion de leyes_.]

Law XLVIII

We prohibit and forbid, under any circumstance, commanders, admirals,
and officials of the commerce between Filipinas and Nueva Espana from
trading or trafficking, seizing, or lading anything, in any quantity
in the ships during the voyage under their command, under their own
name or another's. Neither shall toneladas be apportioned to them
as to the other citizens, nor can they take or buy them from others,
under penalty of perpetual deprivation of the said posts of the said
line and the confiscation of what goods they lade, carry, or take,
which shall be found to be theirs. [Felipe III--Valladolid, December
31, 1604. Carlos II (in this _Recopilacion_)--1681; see preceding law.]

Law LIX

We order the viceroy of Nueva Espana and the governor of Filipinas,
each one as it pertains to him, to adjust and regulate the fares to
be paid by passengers, according to the place that each shall occupy,
in the ship on which he sails, with men and goods; and what is to be
paid on the trips going and coming, according to the expense incurred
by the ships, in accordance with their burden and crew. They shall
apportion it in such manner that superfluous and useless expenses shall
not be caused. And unless it lacks what is necessary and requisite,
it shall be unnecessary to supply anything from our treasury toward
the expenses of that fleet. We order that the advisable care and
effort be given to this by the overseer [_veedor_], accountant, and
royal officials of the Filipinas Islands. [Felipe III--Valladolid,
December 31, 1604; San Lorenzo, April 22, 1608.]

Law LX

The registers of all shipments from Filipinas shall be opened in
the port of Acapulco, by the person to whom the viceroy of Nueva
Espana entrusts it, and the officials of our royal treasury of the
said port. They together shall examine and investigate the bales
and boxes, and shall make as close and careful an examination as
shall be necessary to discover what may have come outside of the
register and permission. They shall send the registers to Mejico,
as has been the custom, with all investigations made at the port of
Acapulco, by a sufficiently trustworthy person, or by one of our
said officials. In Mejico everything shall be again investigated,
and the duties appertaining to us shall be appraised and collected;
and all other investigations requisite to ascertain and disco