The year has been a productive one for rice, which is the wheat of this country. We are experiencing the great blessing that will result from the cultivated farms that have recently commenced to be established by the Spaniards. They are cultivated by the Chinese, who are excellent farmers. I am encouraging it to the best of my ability, as I believe this is the shortest road to provide this city with plenty of food.
In regard to the trade and commerce of silks and other products of China, in which consists all the substance of the inhabitants of this community, certain straits will be experienced this year, because the returns from Nueva España have been very slight, and prices here are very high. Consequently, all the city has thought, with the general consent, that there should be no [record of] investment, or register, in the ships that are despatched this year to Nueva España for aid. Thus was I petitioned in the name of the whole city. I discussed it in the session with the auditors, and in a treasury meeting with those who attend that. All thought that what the city petitioned should be conceded, as it was well known that it would tend to its increase and profit, or to say better, to the restoration of this community. Your Majesty has much more interest in that than in the duties on the investment and register, which are of slight consideration to this treasury and to that of Mexico; while it is of great interest to all the monarchy that so much silver be not sent to China as was going every year from these kingdoms of your Majesty. Since your royal decrees make so much of the harm that would follow to those kingdoms and to all the monarchy from excesses in these regions, I do not doubt that the decision to set aside the [record of] investment for this year will be quite in accord with its welfare and to your Majesty’s pleasure. [In the margin: “Take it to the fiscal.” “The fiscal says that, in spite of the causes mentioned by the governor in this section of his letter, he has been notified from Mexico and various other places in regard to this particular; and that the ships were laden with merchandise of great value. Hence the omission of the register only served to defraud the royal duties. Consequently, the governor should be censured for his act and a greater demonstration [of displeasure] reserved for what should result from his inspection and residencia from Mexico, that being one of the matters referred to that city.” “Let the decision of the fiscal be followed; and advise the inspector of this, so that he may charge those who are guilty.”]
Not less attention has been paid to the government of the Indians and natives of these provinces. I found them greatly oppressed and harassed by the many burdens, assessments, and services that were imposed on them for the service of your Majesty and the support of the government employees and justices. In regard to this matter, I held several conferences with the ecclesiastical prelates, the regulars, and the seculars. At these were present your Majesty’s fiscal, the assessor of the government, and two encomenderos in the name of the others, and I conferred with them on the most important points. Later, with general consent, I made a new set of instructions and ordinances concerning the justices and encomenderos. By them was prohibited under heavy penalties whatever had been introduced that was harmful to the Indians. An attested copy of certain points was given to the superiors of the orders and to the ministers who are not regulars, of which it seemed best that they should be notified at the same meeting. They were strictly charged with the execution of those clauses; under penalty that if redress were not made by their own action, your Majesty will enforce it. And in order that some cooperation might be supplied on the part of your royal treasury to this general relief which we are trying to effect for the Indians, it was resolved, with the consent of the tribunal of the treasury, to pay the natives who serve in the naval storehouse, the rope-factory, and in the repairs of the ships of your Majesty, a moderate sum which seemed a just recompense for their labor. By that means, and without any remarkable cost to your Majesty (since other expenses were cut down), the villages were relieved of many thousands of ducados which they had to contribute (to their own ruin) every year for the just payment of the aforesaid services. Thus, adding to all this the efforts that, as I wrote in the letter on military affairs, have been made and are being undertaken in regard to their protection, I think everything possible will have been done this year for the just government and administration of these unfortunate natives. [In the margin: “Take it to the fiscal.” “The fiscal says that from what this section shows, the zeal and care of the governor in the welfare, protection, and instruction of those natives ought to be esteemed, and he ought to be ordered to go ahead. At present nothing else in particular can be answered or advised, because this letter does not contain the matters mentioned in it and said to have been given to the religious orders, etc.” “Advise him that the papers have not come, and that we are awaiting them, in order to decide as shall be most advisable.”]
Quite a number of meetings were also held in regard to the government of the Sangleys or Chinese, both those naturalized in the country and those who are transient—the traders and mechanics, who are very numerous. All that needed reform was discussed very deliberately, and is being carried out in accordance with the decisions of the other tribunals. However, we cannot help having a million difficulties in regard to all the matters concerning that nation, as we do not govern them after their own manner—as I state in greater detail to your Majesty in the letter on judicial matters, when discussing the manner in which I think those people should be governed. It is sure and certain that so long as there cannot be the remedy that I ask for in this matter, what is desired and expedient cannot be attained. [In the margin: “Seen; and have particular care in this.”]
The decrees, instructions, and ordinances sent to these islands, both to the governors and to other tribunals and officials, are the rule for the right government of the islands. Very many of them are missing—some being lost by carelessness, and others hidden through malice—and orders are not found for many things that would be necessary, while others, because they were carelessly drawn up, are, when placed in practice, overruled by saying that there was a decree for it. Consequently, desirous of the clarity required in so important a matter, I petition your Majesty to be pleased to have some folios of them printed and sent to this government. [In the margin: “For all the Council.” “Have a pamphlet printed of all these orders and send it to him, and for that purpose send Antonio de Leon to me.” “I have made an agreement with Don Fernando and Antonio de Leon.”]
A seminary for orphan boys is a work of great importance for this city, as there arc usually, in lands so remote, many who are unprotected and without parents or relatives. Your Majesty orders me by a royal decree to favor it, and to seek means by which to found it. Consequently, in accordance with the order, I granted an encomienda of five hundred tributes to one of the foremost inhabitants of this city, namely, Captain Pedro de Navarrete, on condition that he would give a pension of five thousand pesos in ready cash as revenue for the work of the said seminary. By that means was made good the deficiency in his services—which, although they have not been of moment in war affairs, still were sufficient for him to be granted an encomienda; and on condition of the five thousand pesos he was to be preferred to the others. I am awaiting another similar opportunity in order to get enough to be enabled to finish the work [on a building for them] The services of the fathers of the boys who are reared in this house make up for the deficiency of those who do not furnish services, but who can give like sums. By this means, I believe that the house will be established. But in order that it may have some fixed income, it will be necessary for your Majesty to be pleased to command me to give them one thousand five hundred or two thousand tributes that are vacant. With this the seminary will be placed in good condition, and can have a secular priest as rector to govern it, who will be chosen by the governors. Your Majesty will have the patronage of this boys’ seminary, as you have in that of the girls of Santa Potenciana—and at less cost, since all the expenses will be met from encomiendas—than if these had to be enjoyed by worthy men; but their sons will enjoy the encomiendas, since this seminary is founded in order to rear them. [In the margin: “[To be considered by] the whole Council. Take it to the fiscal.” “The fiscal says that he does not consider the means employed by the governor to get these five thousand pesos as good, for it really means selling the encomiendas, and giving them for prices to those who do not deserve them. It will result in the general affliction and discontent of the deserving. Consequently, in case that the sum given in this may be approved, the governor must be ordered that no others be given henceforth in like manner. He considers it as better and more suitable that the governor assign some encomiendas for the revenues and income of this seminary, to the quantity that shall be deemed advisable. Thus has it been, and is being, done with other like foundations in Peru and Nueva España. Madrid, December 5, 1630.” “That the encomienda given was well done, under the conditions that existed. For the support [of the said seminary], the governor shall continue to impose pensions on the encomiendas up to the sum of one thousand ducados, and shall advise us of what is done.”]
Since my arrival, I have had the care of the hospitals of this city, ordered to me by your Majesty in one of your royal decrees received this year. The hospitals are in charge of the discalced religious of St. Francis. I do not doubt that if there were some brothers of [St.] John of God here, they would administer them better; but I have not found them in these islands as yet. I am charging the fathers to look after them carefully, and I personally visit and aid the sick whenever my occupations admit; and I wish that that were often. [In the margin: “Thank him, and tell him to continue what he is doing, since it is not advisable to send any of those brothers at present.”]
I wrote at length my opinion in regard to the spiritual matters of the convents and orders, and at present nothing especial occurs 10 me of which to advise your Majesty. [In the margin: “Seen.”]
The characters of Juan Ruiz de Escalona, treasurer of the royal revenues of these islands, and of the accountant, Martin Ruiz de Salazar, are excellent. They attend to their duties with all punctuality and earnest zeal, which deserve from your Majesty the favor that all who comply with their obligations may hope from your royal hand. They are informing you of their especial petitions, and hence I shall not go into greater detail. [In the margin: “Let persons of these abilities be kept in mind.”]
The inspector who was assigned to this royal Audiencia has not come this year because of his lack of health, according to what he writes me. That is a pity, for it is important to the service of your Majesty that these islands be inspected. [But that should be done] with the mildness and prudence that is proper; for I do not consider it advisable to unearth old matters that now have no redress, and to investigate them will have no other result than to disturb this community. [In the margin: “That this is already provided.”]