On stamped paper of the fourth class shall be written all appointments, all documents of the Poor and of the Indios (native inhabitants), whether private or public, if these should reduce their transactions to paper; provided, that in case the stamped paper which would have been used is lacking this shall not be the cause for nullification, because our intention and which has always been, and is, to free them from any burden and hardship.

And likewise it is our will that the instruments of appointments which are executed contrary to the provisions of this, our law, shall not have any credence, shall not be presented, either at trial or elsewhere, shall not give legal title to litigants, because henceforth we annul them and render them void, subject to the penalties and  prohibitions herein to be mentioned.

And because by the variations and change of the designs of the stamps their  authenticity is made more assured, we command that the stamped sheets bearing said stamps shall not be valid nor be current in the Indies for longer than two years, and that for the succeeding two years other stamps of such design as seems most convenient shall be printed; and furthermore that no persons of any station or rank may print or manufacture stamped paper, except those who have our license for this purpose, nor shall they sell stamped paper without the license of those commissioned for this purpose, which in each Audiencia (Supreme Court) will be pleased to designate for all that which concerns this matter, subject to whose responsibility and authority shall be placed the sale and distribution of said stamped paper; and the persons who sell, stamp or manufacture it contrary to that which is herein provided shall incur the penalties which are stipulated for such offenses.

We have resolved to put, as we hereby put, a fixed price on each of the said sheets of stamped paper, to the end that they may be sold as follows:

• Stamped paper of Class 1, which is issued in whole sheets, 24 reales.
• Stamped paper of Class 2, which is issued in whole sheets, 6 reales.
• Stamped paper of Class 3, which is issued in half sheets, 1 real.
• Stamped paper of Class 4, which is issued in half sheets, 1/4 real.

That each district of the Audiencia where deputy treasurers must be appointed, there must be a treasurer of entire satisfaction from when bonds must be taken – legal, clear and insuring the deputy treasurer – in order that into his custody there may go the stamped paper which may be remitted from these kingdoms, and likewise all that which may result from it, with the condition that what may result from this expedient must, and may, be subjected to the authority of the officials of our royal treasury of the districts of said deputy treasurer, semi-annually, noting that his (audit) must be done ins such a manner and at such time that it may be sent to these kingdoms with the galleons and fleets of each year. And because in this there must be had the good account and order which is desirable, we command our said deputy treasurer that each year, he may take accounts to the treasurer which will be for his protection, putting into this the care and diligence which is a matter so important may    require. And because in many parts of the said our Indies there is no money which can be adjusted to the payment and satisfaction of the third and fourth stamps,  in  consideration of their value being so low, we desire and it is our will that it may be collected in the same form and manner as that preceding from the Bull of Sacred Crusade is done.

And being attentive to that much that the soldiers who reside in the provinces of Chile and Philippine Islands serve us, and to their need and poverty, we have been obliged for the general welfare to relieve them as much as possible. And we command that, in all which may touch them in these provinces and islands – they being ordinary soldiers, and in garrisons  in the army -- they can use, and execute documents on paper of the fourth stamp (class), which is applied to official matters. 

And because the official documents (despachos de oficio) which are made and  dispatched in all our Chanceries, Audiencias and tribunals and any other courts are many, and all are ordained for the good administration of justice and for the benefit of the republics and  (because) if it were necessary to use for them the said sheets higher that the fourth stamp, that necessary to pay the fees would be lacking to them in the scanty funds which they have for expenses of justice: and agreeing that in such   documents this solemnity so important for their legality should not be lacking, it is our will that all such documents be made on the said official fourth stamp (el dicho sello cuarto oficio).

In consideration of (the fact that), by accidents which may happen, errors are made in some of the documents which are given by Viceroys, Chanceries, Audiencias (Supreme Courts), tribunals, courts of Justice, and other courts of the said our Indies, and it would be of much injury to litigants to require them to pay the fees of the stamp two or more times: we have resolved that the official notaries of our Viceroys or Governors, and the clerks of the high courts of justice, licensed notaries public, and the rest of our notaries, and any other officials of papers of the said Chanceries, Audiencias, tribunals, courts, royal houses, and others, if  errors are made in any document  in their offices on stamped sheets of the three stamps, the  recepterea  or  persons  who, in  each  city,  village  or  place, may   have been appointed for the  appointment and  distribution of  them, and the said receptor or person, may receive them and in their place, give others of the same class, collecting for each sheet which he may give in their place at the rate of one-half real, and no more, which is the cost – which is suppose to have — of paper, printing, transportation, and other expenses; and the said receptor will be cleared, in the  account which he may have to give, with those of this kind — cancelled, effaced or signed — which return, according as it is decreed; and if any documents were of secret matters, it will be sufficient that there is brought the stamp and the inscription of such sheets signed by the persons to whom they appertain.

In the cartas acordedas (letters resolved by common consent) which may be displaced by our Viceroys, chanceries, audiencias, tribunals, or other courts of justice, signed by their   presidents, associate Justices, and ministers, there will used the paper of the fourth stamp; and In the rest of the letters of correspondence which the said Audiencias, tribunals and courts of justice may have by means of their official notaries, clerks of high courts and others, or the associates  justices which may be written by private commission, there may be used common paper, or paper of the fourth stamp which is applied to the official documents, as may seem best to them, and the ministers with whom this correspondence is had may do the same.

And we command that under one stamp not more than one instrument of one context may be written, with declaration that this is not understood in the judicial records and registers which remain In custody of the notaries before whom the (instruments) may pass and be executed, which must formed entirely in sheets of the third stamp, because in these must be written consecutively all the documents, instruments, and contracts, of which a register ought to subsist, though they are of different matters and persons, without leaving any blank, because thus It is desirable for greater  legality of the registers and judicial records. [9]