be compelled to become a citizen of the islands, and reside there for at least ten years, or as might be my pleasure; and because my will is to concede favor to the said islands, in order that their condition may continue to improve, and the inhabitants thereof to be advantaged—­I grant that, for the present, they alone, and no others—­whether of Nueva Espana, or any other part of the Indias—­may trade in China, and export, take, or sell to the said Nueva Espana the merchandise and articles thus traded for in both the kingdoms and mainland of China, and in the said islands, for the time and space of six years, first commencing from the date of the departure of the first vessel with a cargo of merchandise for the said Nueva Espana.  I prohibit and forbid all other persons whomsoever, of whatever rank and preeminence, from trading in the said islands and in China for the space of the said six years, reckoned as above stated, under penalty of confiscation of the merchandise that they have traded for therein.  I order that this my provision be promulgated in the City of Mexico, and that my royal officials there enter it in their books.  Those of the said islands shall do likewise, and they shall endorse on the back of this said provision the date upon which it took effect, by the departure from port of the first vessel with the said merchandise.  They shall send me a separate attestation of the same, so that I may know when the said six years are to be in force.  And neither one nor the other shall do anything contrary to this order. [Blank spaces for place, day, and month] one thousand five hundred and ninety.

So that for the period of six years only, the citizens and inhabitants of the Philippinas Islands and none others, whether in Nueva Espana or other places, may trade and traffic in China. [44]

[Accompanying this decree is a separate paper reading as follows:  “/ By the crown of Castilla.  Provision allowing the people of Manila to trade in China.  His Majesty omitted to sign this decree, because he wishes your Lordship to summon Pedro Barbosa and Pedro Alvarez Pereira, and to ascertain from them what is written on the subject from India from Don Christoval de Mora to Pedro Alvarez.  This latter will show your Lordship all the papers that he has bearing upon this matter; and after you shall have examined them, you shall advise his Majesty of your opinion.  Sant Lorenzo, July 23, 1590.”  Without other signature than a rubrica or flourish.]

The Collection of Tributes in the Filipinas Islands 1591

Source:  This document is obtained from copies of the original MSS., in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla.

Translation:  It is synopsized, and partially translated, by Emma Helen Blair; the remaining translation is by Frederic W. Morrison, of Harvard University, and Norman F. Hall.

The Collection of Tributes in the Filipinas Islands