the ships
are arriving or setting out. Although this demand was so just, they
did not take action as I requested; and affairs remain as they were
before. Inasmuch as the despatch of the vessels is not yet completed,
I do not now make a statement of the evil results which I expect to
follow, until I am able to state them with accuracy. All this results
from a failure to observe the ordinance of the Audiencia with regard to
the number which each ship may carry; for, although the number allowed
was limited to two hundred in the largest vessel, one ship of no great
size has brought about five hundred, so that this year six thousand
five hundred and thirty-three Sangleys have arrived, of which I send
a sworn statement. These, added to the almost two thousand of the
previous year who remained, make up a great number. This is within
two years and a half after so dangerous an uprising, and it promises
more danger to follow. Therefore, in order to set this matter right,
I reported that since this city and commonwealth could not allow and
did not desire the Sangleys to remain, and had remonstrated against
it (although it would be for their service) I therefore demanded,
since this was necessary for the safety of the kingdom, that not one
Sangley should [be allowed to] remain in these islands. I also asked
that the number of ships to come from China each year and the number
of men to be carried in them might be definitely stated, this number
being made as small as possible, and severe penalties being assigned to
anyone who should violate the rules. Although the community requested
that what I asked for might be conceded, and the city confirmed what
it had previously said (of which an account has already been given to
your Majesty), the Audiencia has commanded that this year one thousand
five hundred Sangleys shall remain. I fear that many more will stay,
since they are scattered in the provinces, in the rural districts, and
among the surrounding mountains, from which they could be brought out
only with difficulty. The reason for so many Sangleys being brought
in the ships every year is, that the penalties are so light and the
execution of them is so relaxed. As it is to the advantage of the
owners of the ships to get large returns from their vessels, they
are not troubled at being obliged to pay the small fine levied on
them by the city. In spite of the fact that the city declares that
it does not wish Sangleys to remain, they hav