Translations: The fifth document, and the first letter each in the first and the third, are translated by Robert W. Haight; the remainder, by James A. Robertson.
Royal Letters and Decree
Letter to Tavora
The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia which sits there. Your letter of August 4, 628, which treats of matters concerning the exchequer, has been received and examined in my royal Council of the Yndias, and this will be your answer.
As to what you say that it is not expedient to continue the custom introduced under the governorship of Don Juan de Silva, namely, that the officials of my royal exchequer in those islands should not make payments without your order—considering that they have not half the money which is needed, and that it will be necessary to set limits to the payments, so that they may be made only in the most necessary cases—you will observe the order which you have for this matter, taking care that the payments made be entirely justified.
I have looked into the difficulties which you mentioned as resulting from the sale of offices of notaries in the provinces of the islands; but as it seems that the considerations in favor of it are the weightiest, you will order that they be immediately sold, or at least one in the chief town of each province, and will advise me when this is put into execution, and the amount for which each one is sold.
It will be well, as you say, that with the approval of another council like that which was held in the time of Don Pedro Acuña, decisions should be made whether it would be best to make a new valuation of the produce in which the Indians are obliged to pay the tribute. Granting the arguments which you bring forward, you will take care that they pay some of their taxes in kind; because otherwise they would not take the care that is desirable in stock-raising and farming.
You will see to it that the payment of salaries to the auditors of that Audiencia be not postponed; but on the other hand you shall prefer them to all others, whereby the complaint which they make of you on that score will be avoided. [Madrid, December 4, 1630]
I the King
Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras.