The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 | Page 8

hospital, and the other third to the poor in the prison.
By this act they so declared ordered, and decreed.
Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act decreeing that the royal officials, in the sale of gold and other
goods, from the royal exchequer, see that it be done for cash, and not
auctioned to creditors of the exchequer, in order that the latter may
receive their money_.
In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas on account
of his Majesty's royal exchequer of these islands being, as it now is,
embarrassed with many debts, it cannot succeed in paying its creditors
what it thus owes them--which results from the fact that some of the
said creditors, in order to have their accounts paid to them, present
themselves at the royal auctions which are held for the sale of gold,
cotton cloth, and other goods collected from the tributes pertaining to

the royal crown, and bid on such articles, at higher prices than would be
given if they were paying in cash, in order to receive what the royal
exchequer owes them; and that if such things as this were allowed to
continue, the said royal exchequer would not be able to meet certain
necessary matters which continually occur in the service of the king,
our sovereign, and of which consideration should be taken: therefore,
they declared that they ordered, and they did so order, the official
judges of the royal exchequer of the king our sovereign in these islands,
that now and henceforth, in the auctions and sales which may be made
of any royal property, it shall be made over to the person or persons
who bid the highest, being knocked down to them and paid for
immediately. They shall admit or receive in no other way any other bid
which may be made by the said creditors. By this act they so declared
and ordered, and signed the same.
Don Francisco Tello Doctor Antonio de Morga The licentiate Tellez
Almazan The licentiate _Albaro Çambrano_
Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act decreeing that the advocates and attorneys of this royal
Audiencia shall follow the customs of the natives._
In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas in suits
brought by natives of these islands, wherein they consider in this royal
Audiencia questions of slavery, divisions of inheritances, slaves,
marriage-dowries, and other things, it is fitting that the advocates and
attorneys of this royal Audiencia follow the customs of the said natives,
observed formerly and now in the said suits: therefore, in order that
they may be observed as his Majesty orders, and that to that end they
may keep a copy in their possession, in order that they may know and
observe them, they ordered, and they did so order, that the said
advocates and attorneys in all suits at present pending in this royal
Audiencia, as in those which shall be brought and continued henceforth,

touching the said natives, shall approve and adhere to the said customs
which the Indians were thus accustomed to follow and do follow; and
they shall take a copy of the said customs which are set down in the
books [1] of the royal Audiencia resident in these islands. They ordered
that all the aforesaid persons should be notified of this act, in order that
they may observe and execute it, under penalty of the loss to the parties;
and, besides that, their consciences were charged with it, and it was
declared that they would be judged guilty for any laxity or neglect
which should thus occur. By this act it was so decreed, and they
ordered it to be registered.
Don Francisco Tello Doctor Antonio de Morga The licentiate Tellez
Almazan The licentiate Albaro Cambrano
Before me:
Pedro Hurtado Desquibel

_An act declaring that no use shall be made of the tariff made by this
royal Audiencia._
In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia of the Philipinas Islands declared that, whereas it has been
provided and ordered that the court clerk and other officials of the
Audiencia and ordinary courts shall collect their fees in conformity
with the tariff of the royal Audiencia of the City of Mexico in Nueva
España: therefore, they ordered, and they did so order, that this be
observed and executed exactly as the king, our sovereign, commands;
and that the said officials may not use the tariff which the Audiencia
made