The disputes which generally arise between the governor and the auditors of this royal Audiencia are usually more prejudicial in these islands than in the rest of your Majesty's monarchy, as these are the most remote; for their preservation lies in the governor being obeyed and respected, and in his orders being executed and entirely observed, without the auditors hindering him, or casting any doubt on his supremacy, as they are often wont to do.
The jurisdiction of this Audiencia is set at rest from the ecclesiastical fuerzas and the litigations of these inhabitants--who, as is seen from the chart which I am sending under other covers, amount in all to 151 married men, 81 single men, 45 widows, and 160 children, besides fifty other men who live in other places. All the rest are paid sailors and soldiers, with whom the Audiencia has nothing to do; and from that one can infer how few affairs of justice arise. That is the cause of the disputes, and of the auditors actually deciding the affairs of government under pretext of appeals, without waiting until the governors grant or deny them, in accordance with law--to the considerable discredit, of the authority that your Majesty has conceded to the government. That results in nothing that is ordered being executed. And although your Majesty has provided a remedy for these accidents with decrees, so that, in case of doubt, the governor may declare what occurs to him, and that the auditors may pass for this purpose into Philipinas, still that has not sufficed; for they take care to give the decrees a different meaning, and will not be subdued by any means that I have used. In proof of this I cite the following examples.
Your Majesty has prohibited the Audiencia from trying causes concerning the Sangleys of the Parián, and ordered that they be tried only by the alcalde-mayor and the governor, reserving only the sin against nature to the Audiencia. Nevertheless, they meddle by taking the [trial of] first instance from the alcaldes-mayor.
Your Majesty permits only four thousand Sangleys in these islands, but a greater number has been tolerated because of the advantage of the licenses that they pay, and in order not to disturb the trade with China. In respect to these and many other troubles, the former governors have endeavored very earnestly to assure that nation, charging the justices to be very attentive in their jurisdictions, and not allowing them to grant passage from one part to another without permission. Especially is it charged upon the alcalde-mayor of the jurisdiction of Vinondo--the point where the Sangleys fortified themselves during the insurrection. For this so laborious occupation, in a special meeting fees were assigned for each license, at the rate of one real and a quarter for him and his clerk. This has been the practice for many years. This Audiencia having begun to govern these islands because of the death of Don Juan Niño de Tavora, the Order [104] of St. Dominic endeavored to alter these licenses and the fee, by representing the injury that was done the Sangleys. But the auditors, in consideration of the above so superior reasons, confirmed to the letter the last act made concerning this matter by the deceased governor; and when I succeeded to the government in accordance with your Majesty's order, the said religious endeavored to do the same thing. Upon becoming thoroughly familiar with the matter, I confirmed the said governmental acts, enacted by the Audiencia and by Don Juan Niño de Tavora. Nevertheless, from this they have stirred up this pretension, trying the subterfuge of having recourse to the Audiencia for an affair of justice--where they are admitted without these same auditors heeding that they have [already] cast their votes for the government measure.