of August 19,
one thousand six hundred and six, to those who should go to colonize
the port of Monte Rey. In case it seems to them that the latter port
is entirely preferable to either of the two islands referred to, you
will execute the decree previously issued with reference to the said
colonization and opening to navigation of the said port of Monte Rey;
and by this my decree I command my accountants for my Council of the
Yndias to record this command. Dated at [_word partly illegible_;
Aranjuez?] September 27, one thousand six hundred and eight.

_I The King_

Certified to by Juan de Civica and signed by the members of the
Council of War of the Yndias.

The King: To Don Luis de Velasco, my viceroy, governor and
captain-general of the provinces of Nueva Espana, or to the person or
persons in whose charge the government may be. Having understood that
as a way-station for the vessels in the Philippine trade, one of these
islands, Rrica de Oro and Rrica de Plata, would be more suitable than
the port of Monte Rey--which had been explored, and for the opening
and colonization of which orders had been issued--because the former
are in a better situation: by a decree of the twenty-seventh of
September of the past year, I commanded you to suspend for the time
being the opening and settlement of the said port of Monte Rey, and
to undertake the exploration, settlement, and opening of one of those
two islands, Rrica de Oro and Rrica de Plata, as it appeared better
and more suitable for the object desired; and you were to spend from
my royal exchequer whatever money was necessary for this, and settle
other matters, as should be expedient. You were to concede to the
settlers the same privileges as were accorded to those who were to
go to settle the port of Monte Rey; and in case it still appeared to
you that the latter was better fitted than either of the two islands,
you were to execute what I had ordered you to do in connection with
its settlement and opening, as is explained more at length in my said
decree, to which I refer you. But now Hernando de los Rios Coronel,
procurator-general of the said islands, has represented to me that
in any case it is best that the said exploration should be made from
the Filipinas, and not from Nueva Espana--both to avoid the great
expense which would fall on the royal exchequer, if the ships for this
expedition were built there, as all marine supplies are very dear in
your country, an