ntil I shall receive further
orders from my king; for this decision is what I consider best for
his royal service. From the office, February 8, 1591.

[Salazar writes a short letter (dated Feb. 14) to Dasmarinas, urging
him to adopt the measures proposed by the clergy; but, as it contains
no new information, we do not present it here.]

Order Issued by the Governor for Collection of the Tributes

I, Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, governor and captain-general of these
Islas Philipinas for the king our lord: Inasmuch as I am notified, by
the decrees and instructions of his Majesty, wherein he commands and
charges me to exert myself to check the excesses and lawless acts which
are prevalent in the collection of the tributes in the encomiendas
belonging to his Majesty, as well as those of the other encomenderos,
I have looked into this matter; and, with all the care and attention
I could give, I have consulted and conferred as to the best order
and method that should be employed in the aforesaid collections,
in order that God and the king, our lord, may be served. Therefore,
in order that the Indians may not be annoyed or aforesaid excesses--it
is fitting that the procedure is not due them, to put an end to the
evils and wrongs which have existed in this business, and to check
the aforesaid excesses--it is fitting that the procedure which is to
be henceforth followed be understood and established. Accordingly,
by this present I do order and command that in the collection of
tributes, not only in the encomiendas of the king but in all others,
the following rules and conditions shall be observed:

First: In the encomiendas of his Majesty as well as in those of private
persons, where they have Christian instruction and the administration
of secular justice for the maintenance of law and order, the entire
tribute levied may be collected from the natives; and the encomendero
is bound, with that part of the tribute which falls to him, to aid in
the support of the minister or ministers of religion who belong to
his encomienda. The said tribute shall be collected in its entirety
in the aforesaid encomiendas where justice and religious instruction
exist, and equally from all the Indians therein, whether believers
or unbelievers. I also order all encomenderos who are or shall be
appointed in the encomiendas, to provide with the utmost punctuality
and promptness, each in his own encomienda, that part of the tribute
which is due f