gard 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 there of 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 occasions which may arise,
the act which you have issued to this effect, which I approve.

That the said royal officials may always be at peace with you and well
disposed, letters are being written to them as to how they should
conduct themselves; and you, on your part, will maintain friendly
relations with them.

The additional pay of a thousand pesos which you set aside for the
bishop of Cebu, during the time while he governs that archbishopric,
has been approved, since the reasons which oblige you to it are so
justifiable. [Madrid, January 27, 1632.]

_I the King_

By command of the king our lord:
_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

_Decree forbidding secular priests from Eastern India in the
Philippines_

The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava,
member of my Council of War, 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. I have been
informed that the secular priests who go to those islands from Eastern
India with their trading-ships generally are those expelled and exiled;