o which you, as an encomendero,
are obliged, to the satisfaction of my governor of the said islands,
to whom and to my royal Audiencia of the said islands, I order no
obstruction to your voyage to be placed. During the said eight years,
which are to run and be reckoned from the day on which you leave
the said islands in order to make your voyage, they shall not take
away from or deprive you of the said Indians; and shall allow you
to enjoy freely the income from them and the other things which you
shall possess in the said islands, notwithstanding any royal orders
or decrees given to the contrary. Such orders and decrees, I do for
this time, and so far as they touch this case, dispense with. Given
in Madrid, October two, one thousand six hundred and twenty-seven.

_I The King_

By order of the king our sovereign:

_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

I copy this transcript from the original, which was in possession of
the treasurer, Alonso de Santoyo, knight of the Order of Santiago, at
whose request it was drawn. It is a faithful and true copy. Mexico,
March twelve, one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine. Witnesses
were Hipolito de Santoyo and Geronimo de Marquina, inhabitants of
Mexico. I seal it in testimony of the truth.

_Marcos Leandro_, his Majesty's notary.

We, the undersigned notaries, certify and attest that Marcos Leandro,
by whom this copy appears to be signed and sealed, is a notary of his
Majesty; and as such, entire faith and credit has been and is given to
the writs and other acts which have passed and pass before him, both in
and out of court. In order that it may be apparent, we give the present
in Mexico, March twelve, one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine.

_Pedro Gallo_, his Majesty's notary.
_Francisco Gallo_, his Majesty's notary.
_Alonso Cavallero_, his Majesty's notary.

_Act ordering the fulfilment of the royal decree_

In the port of Cavite, July twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and
twenty-nine, Don Juan Nino de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava,
comendador of Puerto Llano, member of his Majesty's Council of War,
his governor and captain-general of these Filipinas Islands, and
president of the royal Audiencia therein, having seen this copy of the
royal decree which his Majesty gave at the petition of Don Fernando de
Silva, knight of the habit of Santiago--who presented himself before
his Lordship in his own behalf, and petitioned that it be observed an