All the welfare of this land, for its maintenance and the prosperity of those who reside in it, lies in the cargoes of the ships which are despatched to Nueva Espana, with which your Majesty favors the citizens of this city and the settlers.  I assure your Majesty with the truth that I desire to employ, that much wrong is done them, and that the ships are laded for the dependents and connections of the governor, by which they are benefited with great riches; and the same thing is done by the commanders and admirals who come from Mexico, who, as they are persons from the household of the viceroy, are the ones who get the benefit.  The governor will not allow the Audiencia to interfere in this; and thus the persons to whom this favor was extended suffer, and those enjoy it who were prohibited from doing so, and counted undeserving.  I communicate this, that your Majesty may be pleased to order it corrected; for it is a matter which affects all with much grief and resentment. [In the margin:  “No answer to be given, for suitable provision has already been made.”]

The plan which appears suitable for this (which I humbly beseech may be looked into, according to my desire) is what your Majesty has commanded by his royal decree—­that there should be sent each year to the Council a report of what is laded in the ships, and to what person it belongs; and this is not done.  In order that this should be carried out, it is expedient that an auditor should be sent by the royal Audiencia—­and not by the governor, as that is not fitting—­who should take, on the oath of a notary, account of everything which enters in the ship, nothing being laded without his presence and supervision.  In this manner the freighting will be justly done without the freighters who are appointed having a chance to sell the tonnage, as they do today.  Thus they leave the citizens without the share which belongs to them, defrauding the royal customs, as would appear if this plan were observed—­at which I know your Majesty would be very glad, and all the citizens would enjoy fully the favor which has been granted them.  God protect the Catholic person of your Majesty.  Manila, June 28, 605.

The licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Relacion de las Islas Filipinas, by Pedro Chirino (concluded).—­See Bibliographical Data at end of Vol.  XII.  Full details regarding this work will be given in the bibliographical volume at the end of this series.

All the rest of the matter contained in this volume is obtained from original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; their pressmarks are as follows: 

1. Letters from Acuna.—­“Simancas—­Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del Gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1600 a 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7.”  The postscript regarding Santa Potenciana—­“Simancas—­Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1600 a [1612?]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19.”