_An act decreeing that the interpreters shall not trade or traffic
with the natives._

In the city of Manila, on the seventh of January, one thousand five
hundred and ninety-nine, the president and auditors of the royal
Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas Islands declared that,
whereas it has come to their knowledge that the interpreters, as a
result of their occupation as interpreters, and being for the most part
friendly to the natives, seek and attempt to acquire, with trinkets
and other illegal means, jewels, slaves, and other things, at lower
prices than they are valued by the said natives: therefore, in order
to put a stop to the aforesaid evil by applying a remedy for it, they
resolved, ordered, and decreed, that now and henceforth, no interpreter
shall buy from the said natives any jewels, slaves, or other valuables,
except in the presence of the magistrate, under penalty of confiscation
of what shall have been bought by the interpreter violating this law,
half of which is immediately to be applied to his Majesty's treasury,
and the other half to the expenses of justice; and furthermore, he
shall not be allowed to exercise the said office any longer. By this
act they so provided, ordered, and decreed.

_Don Francisco Tello_
_Doctor Antonio Morga_
The licentiate _Tellez Almazan_
The licentiate _Cambrano_

Before me:

_Pedro Hurtado Desquibel_