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]

I604-1605] MALDONADO TO FELIPE III

315

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