your
Majesty's treasury. The section provides that for these expenses the
duties shall be increased--by two per cent on the goods carried in the
ships, and another two per cent on the money sent to these islands as
proceeds from the shipment. It provides that this fund shall be put
in a chest apart, and kept in this city, to meet the expenses of the
said ships and the men in them. This sum is to be kept together with
the freight charges collected. The contents of this section require
careful consideration. When the ships return to these islands, they
come laden with the forces intended for this military district and
garrison, and artillery, arms, and ammunition; and with the religious,
and the colonists who come to settle in these islands, in addition
to other things required for the service of your Majesty. Although
they do indeed bring the money for the citizens of this city, they
at the same time bring much required for the reenforcement of the
military establishments here. If these freights are to be apportioned
as your Majesty commands, there will be a large amount which might
fall upon your royal treasury. Hence it seems that, if your Majesty
should be pleased, it would be well for the present not to change the
custom which has hitherto been followed; and that only to assist the
expenditures which your Majesty incurs in sending out these vessels
should the citizens of these islands be charged two per cent on the
merchandise which they ship, and two per cent more for the money sent
them in return. For, although it is said on the other side that the
profits are large, they commonly are not; while the freight, fees,
and duties are very great. From these profits there is paid to your
Majesty in this city five per cent, including the new increase, and
in Nueva Espana sixteen per cent; while the expenses of the ships
which had to put back to port, and the goods lost in those which have
been wrecked since the year one thousand six hundred, come to more
than a million. It will take many years for the profits to make up
for such a loss. May God keep the Catholic and royal person of your
Majesty. Manila, July 6, 1606.

The licentiate _Telles de Almacan_
The licentiate _Andres de Alcarez_
The licentiate _Juan Manuel de la Vega_

Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III

Sire:

Last year, sixteen hundred and five, during which I began to serve
your Majesty as fiscal of this Audiencia, and as protector of the
nativ