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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources/gold-from-graves-cebu-sm.webp" alt="Gold taken from burial places of Cebu" />
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It was ordered that all gold already in the possession of the soldiers be declared so that "his majesty may receive and take his royal fifths and rights".  Furthermore, it was ordered that, from that time forward, no grave or burial-place be opened without the permission of his excellency, in order that there might be present at this opening one of the king's officials,  or the government notary, so that no fraud or deceit may occur.
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<p>
Violators are penalized with five hundred pesos de minas and of returning all that was taken from such grave or burial-place, together with the fifth over and above this for majesty's exchequer and treasury.
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The edict were proclaimed, by the voice of Pito Atambor (Ypolito Atanbor), in the presence of Fernando Riquel, the government notary, near the lodging of the said Legaspi, and near the lodging of the master-of-camp, Mateo del Sas, many soldiers being present at each place.
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<p>
The royal fifth (quinto del rey) is an old royal tax that reserves to the monarch 20% of all precious metals and other commodities,  including slaves, acquired by his subjects as war loot, found as treasure or extracted by mining.
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Source:<br/>
<a href="https://kahimyang.com/pdf/The-Philippine-Islands-V02"  class="news_link">The Philippine Islands 1493 - 1803 
Volume II</a>, 1521-1569, pages 172-173 
Translated from original document by Blair and Robertson, 1911.  Please visit our download page <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/Downloads.xhtml?sortorder=blaironly"  class="news_link" title="Downloads" data-ajax="false"><b>here</b></a> to read/download some or all the 55 Blair and Robertson volumes.
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May 16, 1565: Legaspi ordered his men to declare gold taken from burial places of Cebu