Majesty can find vassals who will serve you as governors,
whose consciences are so well regulated that they will serve you as
is just. Therefore, Sire, I think it better, in order to obviate
so great a loss as your Majesty suffers in your royal treasury,
for you to be pleased to grant permission for the two hundred and
fifty thousand pesos, whether to ecclesiastics or to laymen; and to
order, under severe penalties of life or of loss of office in your
royal service, that it be executed or observed inviolate. Account
must also be rendered to your Majesty in this matter, in which there
is so much corruption in all the Indias and in these islands--with
flagrant violation of law, since it has obliged me to go in person
to perform the duty of a royal official by lading the vessels myself,
and not permitting any consignment outside the register. The governors
cannot always do that personally, because of the many occupations
and responsibilities imposed by government. In consequence, they
are forced to entrust it to your Majesty's vassals, on whom the
same penalties are laid and executed as are laid by your Majesty
on your said governors. I discharge my conscience, and am awaiting
the resolution that your Majesty may be pleased to take in this
matter. May our Lord preserve your Catholic person in its greatness,
as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, June last, one thousand six
hundred and thirty-six. Sire, your Majesty's vassal kisses your feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

[_Endorsed_: "June 17, 1638. Let there be no innovation."]

_Chinese_

[_In the margin_: "He says that the pagan Indians pay annually, for the
general license given them, permitting them to live in those islands,
nine pesos less one real; and that they live in a place called the
Parian, from which they went out. And having brought them back to it,
they asked permission to go to live in other places; and it was given
them, by their paying ten pesos."]

Sire:

The heathen Chinese who live in these islands and come to trade with
the vassals of your Majesty, pay annually nine pesos less one real
for the general license which is given them for permission to live
in your Majesty's lands, and by way of recognition. They live in a
place which has been built for them near the Manila walls, called in
their language "the Parian." Many of them have gone to live outside
in the stock-farms and gardens of the inhabitants, and in other parts,
because of t