women,
children, and sick. The religious are asked to give their opinion
on certain points: whether it would not be well to take from the
Indians their gold, as a pledge for their good behavior in the event
of hostilities; to induce the Christianized natives to remove inland
to more secure locations, there to produce rice and other supplies; to
seize the property of the Chinese and place it in the warehouses of the
city, and break up the Parian; and to oblige the encomenderos to store
in the city the provisions which they collect as tributes. Another
communication from the governor is addressed to the ecclesiastics. He
reminds them of their persistent opposition to his measures, but
urges them, in view of the common danger that threatens the colony,
to unite with him in efforts to repel it and to save the country.

A letter from Felipe to Dasmarinas (January 17, 1593) commends the
governor's faithfulness and care in his office, and replies to various
suggestions made in his dispatches. Dasmarinas is to take possession
of the hospitals for the king, restrain the assumption of authority by
the bishop, and not allow him to meddle with the payment of salaries
to the priests. The religious orders are not to interfere with civil
affairs. Dasmarinas shall appoint, in place of the bishop, a protector
of the Indians. All the tributes are to be increased by two reals; and
the royal fifth shall be exacted as soon as practicable. The soldiers
are not to be allowed to trade, beyond the amount of a few hundred
pesos; the governor may, at his discretion, permit some to return to
Nueva Espana. The removal of the Chinese traders from Manila is left to
the governor's judgment. Workmen in the islands are to be paid there,
from the royal treasury. The duties levied by Dasmarinas are approved
and continued. With this letter go two decrees; one (dated on the same
day) ordains that suits involving one thousand ducados or less may be
concluded in the court of the islands, and those for larger sums may
be appealed to the Audiencia of Mexico. The other (dated February 11)
restricts the trade with China to the inhabitants of the Philippines,
and forbids those of the American colonies (except those of Nueva
Espana) to trade, not only with China, but even with the Philippines.

_The Editors_ October, 1903.

Documents of 1591

The collection of tributes in the Filipinas
(_concluded_). Domingo de Salazar, and others; January-March.