ed into the difficulties which you mentioned as resulting
from the sale of offices of notaries in the provinces of the islands;
but as it seems that the considerations in favor of it are the
weightiest, you will order that they be immediately sold, or at least
one in the chief town of each province, and will advise me when this
is put into execution, and the amount for which each one is sold.

It will be well, as you say, that with the approval of another council
like that which was held in the time of Don Pedro Acuna, decisions
should be made whether it would be best to make a new valuation of the
produce in which the Indians are obliged to pay the tribute. Granting
the arguments which you bring forward, you will take care that they
pay some of their taxes in kind; because otherwise they would not
take the care that is desirable in stock-raising and farming.

You will see to it that the payment of salaries to the auditors of
that Audiencia be not postponed; but on the other hand you shall
prefer them to all others, whereby the complaint which they make of
you on that score will be avoided. [Madrid, December 4, 1630]

_I the King_ Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras.

_Royal decree to regulate shipbuilding_

The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, my governor and captain-general
of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein,
or the person or persons in whose charge their government may be. It
has been learned by my royal Council of the Indias that the warships
which are built in those islands are so large that they can be used
only to fight in a stationary position in any battle; and that they
cannot avail for navigation, to make or leave port when desired, to
sail to windward, to pursue, or for any other purpose; and that there
are not sailors or soldiers or artillerymen in sufficient numbers with
whom to man them, as the smallest ship is of a thousand toneladas'
burden. In order to equip them many war supplies are needed, also
huge cables and heavy anchors, of which there is a great scarcity
in that country. We have been informed that, now and henceforth, it
would be advisable that no ships of greater burden than five or six
hundred toneladas be built which will be suitable for the commerce
and trade with Nueva Espana, and for the war fleet. And inasmuch as it
is advisable that the best plan be adopted in this matter, you shall
assemble the persons of that city most experie