le for the Sangleys that the fiscal be their protector. The
Sangleys have always petitioned for a protector. They are the ones
who pay him his salary, and not your Majesty; consequently I cannot
see that there should be any inconvenience in your Majesty giving
them the one whom they desire and whom they pay, especially when it
does not militate against your Majesty or your royal treasury. The
Sangleys are very unprotected since your Majesty ordered that the
fiscal should not be their protector. They are much better off, as
they have experienced (as we all experience) the Christian spirit
and honesty with which the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, has served
and serves your Majesty. Consequently, it seems to me advisable that
the present fiscal, and those who shall fill that office hereafter,
be the protectors of the Sangleys. The contrary, I believe, would
result in harm to the Sangleys. No protector can have less trading
and business relations with the Sangleys than the fiscal, to whom
your Majesty has prohibited trade and traffic; and he has forsworn
it. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty for
many years for the welfare of His kingdoms. Manila, July last, 1631.

_Fray Pedro_,
bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus.

ROYAL ORDERS, 1632-33

_Letter to Tavora_

The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora of my Council of War, my governor
and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my
royal Audiencia there. Your letter of June 20 of the past year 630,
concerning the exchequer, has been examined in my royal Council of
the Yndias, and an answer is given you in this concerning the matters
thereof in which decision has been made, and those which require reply.

I have considered what you say in regard to the inexpediency of
including these islands in the monopoly of playing-cards established
in Mexico; [87] also the act which you issued to the effect that the
[monopoly] contracted for with Don Francisco de la Torre, a citizen
of that city, should be put into 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 re