considering the affair
in its beginnings, the commission and order of his Majesty--which
instruct me to see that your Lordship consider what should and can
be done in this matter; and also to execute the resolutions made
by our joint agreement, with all the punctuality which is required
therein--clearly express the will and determination of his Majesty,
who mentions only the encomiendas which are at present disaffected,
or have never been pacified. It is only concerning these latter,
that doubts may be entertained as to the question of collecting
the tributes, either in whole or in part (by way of recognition,
as is stated in your opinion). These encomiendas are not reached by
religious teaching, or by the administration of justice, or by other
advantages; and, consequently, are the ones concerning which, as I
have said, doubts are entertained. As for those encomiendas which may
possess any of the aforesaid benefits, such as religious teaching,
the administration of justice, intercourse, and other advantageous
relations, there is no occasion for any dispute concerning them; nor
should the management of these (as far as our present knowledge goes)
be committed to your Lordship. It is, therefore, needless to include
them in the general rule; but in dealing with the encomiendas which
are disaffected, and in those not yet pacified, only a part of the
tribute should be collected, for the unburdening of his Majesty's
and our own consciences. Your Lordship's, etc.

The Petition Presented to the Governor by the City and the Encomenderos
on the Fifteenth of February, 1591

We, the corporation and magistrates of the city of Manila, for
ourselves, and in the name of all these Filipinas Islands, and of their
encomenderos, settlers, and discoverers, do declare the following: As
is well known, many of us came here twenty-seven years ago, when these
islands were discovered, and have spent years in the propagation of
our holy Catholic faith, the defense of the preaching of the gospel,
and the service of the king, our lord. On account of this devotion
we abandoned our fatherland, and forgot our parents, brothers, and
relatives, and the comforts which each one of us possessed; and after
having endured the great dangers of a long and hitherto unknown voyage,
we settled in a land where we have shed our blood, and suffered the
fearful miseries of hunger, thirst, exposure, and many other hardships,
so great that they have cost the