Report of Archbishop on the Bakery of Manila
Sire:
On behalf of this city a royal decree has been presented to me in which your Majesty commands me to inform you in regard to the favor which Governor Don Fernando de Silva extended to the said city and to Captain Andres Fernandez de Puebla, giving them the income from the bakery of this city, which was established on the site and lot belonging to the said Andres Fernandez de Puebla, he enjoying half the rent and the said city the other half. The said Andres Fernandez de Puebla is an old citizen, who has served your Majesty with approval. Complying with the said instruction, and in order to investigate the matter with fairness and accuracy, as it should be, I personally went to the said bakery and inspected it. I found it walled entirely about with cut stone, and with doors and stout locks, so that when it is locked up at night no one can go in or come out. The site is ramparted and habitable where the ovens stand. Although there are some filling timbers lacking in the middle, it is nothing of importance, and may be easily repaired. I found in the said bakery a Spanish overseer, who serves as a faithful manager and who lives there continually, as I have been informed. He does not allow the Chinese bakers to adulterate the flour, and is always present to see that they make clean bread. It seems to me that it is very useful and advantageous for this city that all the ovens be placed together in the said bakery, and in no other place. It is fitting that your Majesty should order this; for there are very great difficulties in the maintenance of ovens in private houses, as they are haunts where are committed thefts and offenses against God, which are commonly known. This is my opinion and is based on my forty years’ experience since I have been in these islands. May God protect the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of Christianity.
Dated at Manila, on the third of August, 1634.