o the weather-conditions of the season, and the distance
[from Manila] of the places where they live.

Whenever ships or fleets have been despatched, some advance pay
has been given to the regular sailors and soldiers. It is a harsh
measure that because we do not have, for all the greater and less
matters that arise, a distinct decree from your Majesty which is in
accord with one of the new ordinances, the royal officials should
continually impugn and oppose the orders that exist in some of the
same matters; and although there should be nothing else to do than
to obey the ordinances, the greater part of the time is passed in
summons and replies. I have received in these ships a royal decree
from your Majesty, under date of August 26 of the past year, in which
your Majesty is pleased to order me to collect two per cent on the
merchandise exported to Nueva Espana, in addition to the other three
per cent that has been paid hitherto, in accordance with what the
visitor agreed with this city by way of a gracious gift; and that
on the first occasion _[word illegible in MS._; I make?] decision
of what must be observed, and give information whether this duty is
collected here, or whether the benefit of it is obtained along with
the situado of these islands. I caused it to be obeyed and executed
according to its contents. And in order that these citizens might
appraise their goods in accordance with this order I had the said
royal decree published in the usual places, and it was communicated to
the cabildo, judiciary, and magistracy of this city. Seeing that the
citizens were exceedingly remiss in lading, and the time far advanced
for the ships to make their voyage, I proceeded to stimulate them
by edicts and orders, and finally by placing them under the penalty
of losing the favors which your Majesty has granted them in allowing
the five hundred thousand pesos that are brought every year from Nueva
Espana. The city replied to that by appealing from my act and from the
said royal decree to your Majesty, as the relation given by the visitor
was not in harmony with the acts, and as their citizens had not made
any [such] agreement. The four thousand pesos which they gave as a
donation was for that time, provided that no further action should
be taken regarding this duty until the matter had been discussed
in the royal Council of the Yndias. In proof of it, the visitor
embarked without having made a beginning in this collection. Aft