at,
while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal
officials or their assistants, or any other person--Spanish, Sangley,
or native--shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large
or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants
thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship,
after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and
where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone--with
the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil
this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the
law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said
guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice,
and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by
this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise
the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who
so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be
made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines,
and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall
be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the
said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered,
and decreed.

Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that tribute be collected for the king, our
sovereign, from all the Indians found settled and dwelling in this
city and within its bounds, who belong to his Majesty's encomiendas._

In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second of March, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands examined the
petition of the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salzedo, fiscal for
his Majesty in this royal Audiencia, that the collectors of the royal
tributes of the king our sovereign, in this city and its environs,
may collect tribute from all the Indians who are found therein,
notwithstanding any obstacle or excuses whatever which may be offered
by the said Indians, or by any encomenderos. Considering that for
many years the Indians have dwelt and resided in this city, and that
their tribute belongs and pertains to his Majesty, they declared
that they ordered, and they did so order, that the collectors of
the royal tribute shall collect their tributes from all the Indians
found settled and