at articles and products are sent, their prices,
and whether they contain any things mentioned by the governor. It
is a serious matter, and one that heavily charges your conscience
and the reputation of the officials--who in that matter are aware
that it is declared that in order to burden the royal treasury and
to give advantages to third persons, opportunity is given for such
actions. The service that you would perform would be very grateful
to us, if you would advise us immediately of the condign punishment
of any official guilty of such an offense; for it is a great offense
for those who are placed in offices to protect the royal treasury,
and to benefit the public cause, to convert the exercise of their
offices into all manner of wrongs like this."]

[_Note to section 4_: "Have a copy of this section sent to the
[India] House of Trade. State that although the matter there mentioned
has always been considered harmful to the general commerce of these
kingdoms; and although the silver which must come here from Peru would
in great part, if not all, be taken to Eastern Yndia, and delivered
to our enemies, whereby two wrongs would ensue, since the Filipinas
serve only as a station and bridge: still we have considered whether
adjusting the matter in the following manner would be a suitable
expedient, and one that would avoid all the troubles mentioned. That
the reenforcements be sent straight to Filipinas from Panama, since
it is a road so sure and favorable; and also, as pointed out in this
section, one could take the merchandise from Espana that would be
useful and valuable in Filipinas, with which the blessing of this
trade could be enjoyed; and that the soldiers could sail from Espana
until they should disembark for the short journey from Chagre River to
Panama. In order to avoid any silver from Peru being taken in these
vessels on their departure to Filipinas and so that the merchandise
of those islands might not be brought to Peru on the return trip
(which is forbidden), it shall be ordered that the return trip
of those ships be to Acapulco, as now--prohibiting them under any
circumstance from returning to Panama, Callao, or any port of Tierra
Firme; and so that these boats should not remain [idle] in Acapulco
without making a voyage, they might be used for the voyage to Peru,
because of the permission that has been decreed for the preservation
of mutual correspondence and trade between Peru and Acapulco. They
shal