can_
The licentiate _Albaro Cambrano_

Before me: _Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_

_An act decreeing that no one shall embark for the purpose of leaving
these islands, without permission_.

In the city of Manila, on the first of July, one thousand five hundred
and ninety-eight, the president and auditors of the royal Audiencia
and Chancilleria of the said islands, being assembled, and considering
a petition presented by the licentiate Geronimo Salazar y Salzedo,
his Majesty's fiscal in the said royal Audiencia, declared that,
whereas many people who go unpunished by the royal justice for
murders and other crimes that they have committed, and others for
owing money to the royal exchequer, and for bringing suits against
the royal treasurer, and who have other legitimate reasons for not
being able to leave this city, absent themselves from it in order not
to be punished, or to pay what they owe, and go to Nueva Espana and
other places, favored and assisted by generals, admirals, captains,
masters, and other officers and persons of the ships sailing from
these islands, whence results much harm and trouble; therefore, in
order that the aforesaid evils be remedied, and that this may not be
so henceforth, they ordered, and they did so order, that no general,
admiral, captain, master, or any other officer or person, on whatever
vessel sailing from these islands, for Nueva Espana or any other places
whatever, shall receive, assist, protect, or conceal, in any manner,
any person of any rank or condition whatever, so that he may embark
on such ship or ships--even though he may go thereon as captain,
master, pilot, sailor, or in any other capacity--without securing
permission in writing from the governor and captain-general of these
islands, drawn up with the necessary conditions, and in the usual
form. If it should happen that the said person or persons embark so
secretly that they do not allow themselves to be seen by the officers
of the said ship on which they are, until it is under sail, as soon
as they allow themselves to be seen, the captain of said ship shall
be informed thereof, in order that he may make investigation of it,
ascertaining and assuring himself how and in what manner, and when
and how, they embarked and where; who helped and protected them
therein, and who saw them embark; and for what reason they secretly
embarked. The said officers shall arrest the person or persons who
shall have embarked, together with those