a, or before the auditor for the week, in order that the latter
may determine whether the suit be a proper one--under a penalty of a
fine of six pesos of common gold, immediately upon the conviction of
anyone who may disobey this decree; one-third to go to the receiver of
fines, another third to the royal hospital, and the other third to the
poor in the prison. By this act they so declared ordered, and decreed.

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that the royal officials, in the sale of gold and
other goods, from the royal exchequer, see that it be done for cash,
and not auctioned to creditors of the exchequer, in order that the
latter may receive their money_.

In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas on account
of his Majesty's royal exchequer of these islands being, as it now is,
embarrassed with many debts, it cannot succeed in paying its creditors
what it thus owes them--which results from the fact that some of the
said creditors, in order to have their accounts paid to them, present
themselves at the royal auctions which are held for the sale of gold,
cotton cloth, and other goods collected from the tributes pertaining
to the royal crown, and bid on such articles, at higher prices than
would be given if they were paying in cash, in order to receive what
the royal exchequer owes them; and that if such things as this were
allowed to continue, the said royal exchequer would not be able to meet
certain necessary matters which continually occur in the service of
the king, our sovereign, and of which consideration should be taken:
therefore, they declared that they ordered, and they did so order,
the official judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign
in these islands, that now and henceforth, in the auctions and sales
which may be made of any royal property, it shall be made over to the
person or persons who bid the highest, being knocked down to them
and paid for immediately. They shall admit or receive in no other
way any other bid which may be made by the said creditors. By this
act they so declared and ordered, and signed the same.

_Don Francisco Tello_
_Doctor Antonio de Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_
The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that