Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel
An act decreeing that, on account of the end and death of the licentiate Albaro Çambrano (whom may God keep!), the licentiate Tellez Almaçan is to continue, close, and complete the accounts of the royal exchequer.
In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas the licentiate Albaro Çambrano, late auditor of this royal Audiencia (whom may God have in His holy glory!), to whom was assigned the auditing of the accounts of his Majesty's royal exchequer—which are at present being audited by the royal judicial officials—is now dead and passed from this present life: therefore, in order that on this account the auditing may not be delayed and fail of prosecution, as is fitting, and as the king our sovereign commands in his royal ordinance, in place of the licentiate Albaro Çambrano they appointed, and they did so appoint, the licentiate Tellez de Almaçan, auditor of this royal Audiencia, to continue, close, and finish the said auditing, according to the commission given to the said licentiate Albaro Çambrano, for which they gave him commission in legal form. By this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed.
Before me: Pedro Hurtado Desquibel
An act decreeing that the city shall give information regarding its place of seating in the cathedral of this city.
In the city of Manila, on the sixteenth of March, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands declared that, in order to assign to the cabildo, magistracy, and administration of this city the place of seating that it must keep in the cathedral: in order to ascertain the custom hitherto followed in the aforesaid matter, and in order to provide what is necessary concerning it, they ordered, and they did so order, the said cabildo, magistracy, and administration of this city to give an account of the part and place in which it has been regularly seated in the cathedral of this city—both in the time when the royal Audiencia formerly resided in these islands, and after his Majesty ordered it to be suppressed—in order that, upon examination, the necessary provisions may be made. By this act they so voted, ordered, and decreed.
Before me: Pedro Hurtado Desquibel
An act concerning the royal magazines.
In the city of Manila, on the eighteenth of March, one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands, having examined the opinion of the official judges of the royal exchequer of these islands, on the question of building magazines in which to store the merchandise coming from China to this city, and having investigated other matters connected with the aforesaid, and further matter which is contained in the decree of the king our sovereign, ordering that this said Audiencia attend to the matter: they declared (in conformity with the opinion of Joan de Bustamante, accountant of the royal exchequer) that at present, and until experience further shows what it is most advisable to enact in this matter, the said Chinese merchandise shall be registered and appraised on the same vessels on which it was brought, as has been done hitherto. In order that there may be good accounts and reports, and less opportunity for fraud in the royal customs, they ordered that the official judges of his Majesty in these islands, as soon as each ship enters this harbor and anchors therein, shall go out to inspect it, registering and appraising all the merchandise and other things in the cargo. They shall exert diligence in the matter and make their inspection with the punctuality advisable, so that the said merchandise, or any part of it, may not be discharged or concealed. In order that this may be enforced more effectually, the necessary guards shall be placed on the said ships and in the bay, who are to be trustworthy persons, to the satisfaction of the said president and auditors of this royal Audiencia, by whom they shall be approved and appointed, The said official judges shall have, as a reward for their occupation and labors, one third part of the confiscations which are levied upon any merchandise found and seized because it had been hidden on the said ships, or withdrawn from them without registration or appraisal. They shall also be charged that they shall not allow or consent that, while the said merchandise is on the said ships, either the royal officials or their assistants, or any other person—Spanish, Sangley, or native—shall take, buy, or transport the said merchandise in large or small quantities, for cash or on credit; but that the merchants thereof, who brought the merchandise from China on the said ship, after making registry and appraisal, may take them ashore freely and where they will, without any obstacle or hindrance from anyone—with the warning that, if any one of them do not so observe and fulfil this act, he shall be proceeded against with the full rigor of the law. They ordered that a commission, in due form, be given to the said guards, both in order that they may wield the authority of justice, and that there be no other guards but those who are so nominated by this royal Audiencia; those hitherto acting as guards shall exercise the said duty no longer, under the penalties incurred by those who so act without power or commission in the matter. This act shall be made known to his Majesty's officials, and the chief clerk of mines, and the regidors, for those who are at present guards; and it shall be added to the other acts and investigations made by virtue of the said royal decree of his Majesty. By this act, they so voted, ordered, and decreed.