se of which your Majesty will have
knowledge. One and all have served your Majesty for many years, and
as soldiers and among soldiers. If there should be any fault in the
papers, I beg your Majesty to extend his mercy to all, and to deign
to forget these errors. May your Majesty be pleased to pardon me this
boldness, and to command that the accounts be examined. May replies
be sent by the first ship and any faults of mine which may be found
therein be pardoned, and all necessary instructions be furnished to me.

Moreover, in regard to the inquiry which discusses the exchange of
different grades of gold, the people here are of such sort that no
one makes a payment without declaring that he is giving gold of a
good quality; but, on the other hand, the one who collects declares
to the contrary. By the accounts for the year seventy-six, which
are now finished, and by the entire expense account, which I have
examined personally, it seems to me that good faith in the past year
may be deduced. In this country, the heat of the sun is very great;
and for even one week's work, or when a ship is going to be launched,
it is necessary to erect a shelter for the workmen. This is made in
a short time, with poles, bamboo, and palm-leaves. In the shipyards
there is much waste; and, as the wood rots from dampness here, the
soldiers take it at night to use in their houses, and relieve their
misery. This cannot be called a theft, as it is done by menials who
came hither at your Majesty's expense and are engaged in his service.

When I came here I found the country swept by fire, everything in
ruins, and the Indians in rebellion, having taken advantage of the
coming of the pirate [Limahon]. Since then I have not ceased in my
endeavors to promote all possible peace here. I have surrounded the
city with a palisade and rampart, building therein two cavaliers,
which are further strengthened by ramparts--one toward the southeast,
where the pirate landed; and the other toward the northwest. It
seemed to me very important to guard the point formed by the river
and the sea. People declare that after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came
here the water wore away the land for the distance of two gunshots. I
have all the river staked in, as also the point by the sea; and have
had the latter filled in with earth until it is all level. I think
that it will, therefore, be always stable, if it is repaired from
time to time. I have had the fort of this city repair