The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; 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, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 13]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 13

as have hitherto been incurred on that route, owing
to the large number of agents and officials who have
gone in the ships thereon, it is my will and command
that from now on there shall be only one commander
of the two ships, and one lieutenant, who shall be
admiral. Each vessel shall take not more than one
captain of war, besides the ship-master, and there
may be as many as fifty effective soldiers in each
ship, drawing pay; and the sailors who shall be
necessary to go and return. These shall be kept under discipline, that they may be effective and practiced. There shall be two examined pilots and one
assistant pilot for each vessel, of the necessary qualifications. For the present, and until further orders,
I desire, and it is my will, that since the property
to be traded will be that of the citizens of those
Philipinas Islands, all these officials-commander,
lieutenant, captains, masters, and pilots - shall be appointed by my governor and captain-general of the
said Philipinas Islands and the archbishop of Manila, the present or the future incumbents of those
offices, notwithstanding that they have heretofore
been appointed and furnished by my viceroy of
Nueva Espana; and him I command to cease doing
this from now on. If the said governor and archbishop do not agree in this selection, I command
that they shall join with them the senior auditor of
the Audiencia, and the decision of the majority of
these shall be carried into effect. The persons appointed for these offices shall be chosen among the
principal and honored citizens of the said islands,
and the fittest to be found for the duties that they
must perform. They shall give securities in the
form and amount that may seem best to the said