[50] The _peso_ was a money of account, commonly supposed to be worth fifteen _reals vellón_. There was also a silver coin called a _peso_, which was valued at eight _reals_ of silver, and weighed one _onza_ (a trifle more than the English ounce). The _real_ (=34 _maravedis_) is equivalent to nearly five cents of United States money; it is no longer coined, but is still a unit of value throughout Spain. The _tomin_ for gold was equivalent to 8.883 grains (United States weight), and for silver to 9.254 grains. From a document published in _Doc. inéd. Ultramar_, vol. ii, pp. 461-463, it appears that seven _tomines_ of gold were equivalent to one _peso_ of gold.
[51] The table of weights to which the _marco_ belongs is as follows: 12 granos = 1 tomin; 3 tomines = 1 adarme; 2 adarmes = 1 ochava or dracma; 8 ochavas = 1 onza; 8 onzas = 1 marco; 2 marcos = 1 libra (= 1.016097 United States pounds).
[52] _Encomenderos_: persons to whom _repartimientos_ or _encomiendas_ were granted (see _Vol_. II, note 18).
[53] The name first given to the present city of Cebú, on the island of that name. Another early name was San Miguel, given because the settlement was founded on St. Michael's day.
[54] Bound with this MS. is an abstract of the same, evidently made for the royal council by some secretary. In the margin are noted, opposite the various points, instructions for the governor of the islands. In reply to this letter Lavezaris is to be thanked for his care, and exhorted to continue it. The licentiate Francisco de Sande is about to go from New Spain to the Philippines, to take account of Legazpi's administration and to act as governor. The king is advised to reward Lavezaris, and suitable rewards should be given to Martin de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo. Sande is to be instructed to accord good treatment to the Chinese, in order to invite their trade and win them to the faith. Peace and friendship must be maintained with the Portuguese. The lists of _encomiendas_ granted by Legazpi and Lavezaris, with full information regarding them, must be sent to the government. Sande should be instructed to do what he considers best, in regard to the appointment of _regidores_.
[55] Regarding the authorship of this document, see Bibliographical Data. In its presentation here, we have interpolated in brackets the additional matter found in the Sevilla copy; and likewise words which alter the sense, prefixing to these "S:", to indicate the different reading of the Sevilla document. Matter in the Madrid copy which would give a different meaning from that at Sevilla is indicated by "M:". The title of the latter is: "Relation of the Western Islands, and the route thither from Nueva España."