43. "By the last trading-fleet [flota] I informed your Majesty of the progress of the investigations which had been begun in regard to the commerce of Philipinas, and of the measures which I had taken with the merchants of this city in regard to the indult. They assured me that, as they were included in the offense, and the access to his Majesty's clemency was so open, they would avail themselves of this favor, in order not to suffer another investigation or expose themselves to an experience of the severity of the penalty, since it was easier to take refuge in the sovereign asylum of your Majesty in the indult. But as the opinions of men differ, and their fears are wont to range themselves on the side of their advantage, the notorious nature of the offense was not enough to convince them, or the prohibition of the law to persuade them, on account of their persisting in the belief that [this very] tolerance sufficed to keep them from incurring [the penalties of] guilt; and that the fact that the ships came [to trade] without conforming to the orders of your Majesty afforded to the [Mexican] traders a certain indult for not making any change in the custom [regarding it]--alleging that the tolerance [of the government] was a matter of convenience, and insisting that they had not traded directly in the islands. With this the merchants resolved in a special conference, convened for this purpose by the consulate, that they would not avail themselves of the indult, leaving in my hands the liberty to proceed against all of them, hearing them in [the courts of] justice. "Having learned of this decision, and being certain that many of the merchants were refusing the contribution as a body, and covering the indults as individuals, in order to secure greater advantage to themselves, I directed the auditor who had had charge of this investigation to summon them--each so separately and independently of the others that even the knowledge of this proceeding could not be imparted to them; and beginning with those who were distinguished by either wealth or position, whose opinion might be either a guide or a check to the others, in order that, these having once accepted the indult, their submission and connivance might facilitate the acquiescence of the others.