The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55 / 1625-29 / Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.

by Unknown

[3] This officer had been appointed to the post of warden, without any salary, by Fernando de Silva (see the latter’s report of July 30, 1626); but Tavora soon replaced him by another.

Laws Regarding the Sangleys

[The following laws are translated from Recopilación de leyes de las Indias (Madrid, 1841), lib. vi, tit. xviii. For method of treatment, sec Vol. XVII of this series, p. 27.]

Law III

The bishops do not permit the Christian Chinese who are converted to our holy Catholic faith in the Filipinas Islands to return to their own country, so that intercourse and living among heathen may not cause them to fall into the peril of apostasy; and the governor, knowing that they have no other manner of livelihood except their trading in the neighborhood, buying provisions in order to supply the community, does not allow them to leave Manila without permission, which is a very great obstacle and stumbling-block to the conversion of others. We order that no fee be charged for those permits; and the governor shall have great consideration and care, that no trouble results from them, in respect to the Chinese having free passage through those islands. [Felipe II—Madrid, June 11, 1594.]

Law IX

The goods of the Sangleys who come to trade in Filipinas with Chinese merchandise, and who sell them at wholesale at a price [named] by persons deputed for it (which is what is there called pancada), are left in their possession under guarantee that they will not dispose of them without an order from the governor; and that a price will not be set on the small things, but only on certain fine products. And inasmuch as this is advisable, we order that the Sangleys be notified who shall have to return to those islands, that they must and shall pass according to the laws and orders that shall be made for them. And, in respect to the pancada, it shall be continued with, all gentleness, so that the Sangleys shall not receive any injury; and so that no occasion be given them so that they shall discontinue their coming to attend to their trading. [Felipe II—Madrid, June 11, 1594.]