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. 24]

I630-I634]

ROYAL ORDERS

I93

execution. You will order this to be observed and
complied with, during the time that it shall last; for
it is already agreed to, with this stipulation, and I
have confirmed it. As for the future I wish to know
the advantages or difficulties which may result to my
royal exchequer from doing away with this income,
and not including those islands in it, and whatever
else in this matter may occur to you, you will inform
me in regard to it very fully on the first occasion;
and I likewise command, by a decree of this day, that
the said Audiencia do this.
You say that the office of secretary of the cabildo
of that city was sold for twelve thousand five hundred
pesos in coin, with the condition of having a voice
and vote in the cabildo-which you conceded because the greater part of the offices of regidor thereof were vacant, as there was no one to buy them; and
that the price of the said office should rise, as otherwise it would not pass six or eight thousand pesos.
You also stated that it was sold under condition that,
if I should find it inexpedient and for this reason
should not confirm it, nothing should be returned to
the buyer; and as the said condition of his having a
voice and vote in the cabildo has appeared prejudicial and illegal, you will correct this immediately
- supposing, as you say, that the contract need not be
altered for this reason, or anything given back to the
person concerned.
For repairing of the losses which result from the
fact that the royal officials make the winning bids for
the offices which are sold in those islands, without
notifying you of the amount and the person to whom
they are sold, I am sending a decree of this date to
command them to comply with and execute, on all