are gold-mines
in two localities, I do not inform your Majesty concerning what
expedition I shall make this coming year; since, whatever it may be,
it is necessary to commence it with the beginning of the year, and
cease before St. John's day. With the first reenforcements which
I received, up to the present time, I made this expedition; and I
found the second reenforcement in this city of Manila, with which I
shall do all things possible in the service of your Majesty and will
inform you thereof by the first vessel.

With this reenforcement I obtained letters and news concerning your
Majesty's health, and that of other royal personages. I derived
therefrom the greatest satisfaction, and I continually beseech our
Lord to grant you, and to preserve, health for many years, as your
Majesty's vassals and servants desire and need.

I am writing more at length to the royal Council, to which I am sending
a relation of what I request herein--which I hope your Majesty will
be pleased to examine, for it will be a great favor.

In other letters I have begged your Majesty to be pleased to grant me
a reward; and I referred the matter, in order that he might urge the
same, to a brother whom I had in Espana. God has taken this brother,
as well as my father also; another brother is serving your Majesty
in the Flemish war. For this reason, I believe, I have not received
it--whence I am in anxiety, since I know what your Majesty ordinarily
does for those who serve him. I entreat your Majesty to have the
goodness to favor me, and to console me in my losses of family,
since only God and your Majesty are left me in this life.

The favor which I beg your Majesty is that you bestow upon me the
robe, with a commandery, of one of the three orders. [17] I entreat
your Majesty to vouchsafe this in my behalf, for it is a thing that
your Majesty is accustomed to bestow upon any worthy soldier, even
when he has not an office like that in which I serve. Likewise I
entreat that Don Joan de Sande, my brother, who, as I have already
stated, has been serving your Majesty in Flanders twelve years,
be given the robe, if he be still alive; and if not, I entreat
the same for Don Bernardino de Sande, my brother, who has served
your Majesty in this country as a soldier, and is now serving you
as a captain of infantry. These brothers, as well as myself, will
serve you better according as we are more highly honored. It is of
great importance that your Maje