justice, the reduction of affairs to their way of thinking and to
their will, and other great annoyances, which they cause continually
under pretext of insertions, importunities, and impositions hidden
under the name of charity: I charge and warn you to take particular
care that the religious of your order and you, in what concerns you,
observe the aforesaid, and they likewise. They shall not transgress
in proceedings of that sort, for such things being so, it will be
necessary to use other and more special remedies, as has already
been called to your attention by the said decrees despatched to the
viceroys, audiencias, and governors of their districts. I expect from
your devotion, and from your obligation for the continued kindness that
is shown you, that you will endeavor to inculcate the reform and proper
method of procedure in this that is required for the good government
of those islands, and the preservation of the public peace."]

39th. In order that your Majesty may know what this Pedro Alvarez
demands, I shall relate it here as briefly as possible, referring you
to the report made concerning it (which is enclosed with the licenses
of the Sangleys), since these licenses have been given in writing here,
many years since [30] the imposition or tax of the eight pesos, for
distribution by different persons to whom the governor committed it,
or whom he appointed. Of these the Sangleys paid two reals for the
cost of the document, whether printed or written. The notary, judge,
interpreter, and other agents who made this distribution, according
to the order of the judge himself or of the governor, were ordered to
distribute them. In this the government notary never had any hand,
share, or participation. Many years after the payment of the eight
pesos which were collected for it, and slightly before the death of
Don Juan de Silva, Gaspar Alvarez, then government notary, petitioned
the governor to allow him to countersign them after the former had
signed them, in order to get hold of it. This is the same thing that
his nephew demands now. Don Juan, who was under many obligations to
him, and was by nature very liberal, did not hesitate to concede it
to him. Consequently, Gaspar Alvarez countersigned the licenses by
declaring that he did so. I do not know why so special a commission
as this should belong to the government notary--especially when,
because he may be busy or for just reasons, the governor does not
sign them,