nt of the
inconveniences that have heretofore resulted from the ships being
large and having been navigated on the account of private persons,
in whose charge they were placed--which last must without fail cease.

Furthermore, in order to avoid such large expenses as have hitherto
been incurred on that route, owing to the large number of agents and
officials who have gone in the ships thereon, it is my will and command
that from now on there shall be only one commander of the two ships,
and one lieutenant, who shall be admiral. Each vessel shall take not
more than one captain of war, besides the ship-master, and there may
be as many as fifty effective soldiers in each ship, drawing pay; and
the sailors who shall be necessary to go and return. These shall be
kept under discipline, that they may be effective and practiced. There
shall be two examined pilots and one assistant pilot for each vessel,
of the necessary qualifications. For the present, and until further
orders, I desire, and it is my will, that since the property to be
traded will be that of the citizens of those Philipinas Islands,
all these officials--commander, lieutenant, captains, masters, and
pilots--shall be appointed by my governor and captain-general of the
said Philipinas Islands and the archbishop of Manila, the present
or the future incumbents of those offices, notwithstanding that
they have heretofore been appointed and furnished by my viceroy of
Nueva Espana; and him I command to cease doing this from now on. If
the said governor and archbishop do not agree in this selection,
I command that they shall join with them the senior auditor of the
Audiencia, and the decision of the majority of these shall be carried
into effect. The persons appointed for these offices shall be chosen
among the principal and honored citizens of the said islands, and
the fittest to be found for the duties that they must perform. They
shall give securities in the form and amount that may seem best to
the said governor and archbishop, for the greater security of what may
be in their charge. Their residencias shall be taken for each voyage
by the auditors of my said Audiencia of Manila; and I command that
they shall not be allowed to make a second voyage until they shall
have given the said residencia, and account satisfactorily for what
was in their charge.

As I have been informed that there have been many infractions and
irregularities during past years on the part of t