t was well received,
and the king said that he would reply thereto. Then he wished to see
the present which had been put in twelve boxes. Greatly excited and
enraged by a picture of myself, which represented me armed and with a
cane in my hand, he asked in a loud voice whether this were intended
as a threat. He was answered in the negative, but that it was a custom
of persons who held high offices to send their portraits as tokens of
regard and friendship when embassies were despatched. Thereupon he
was appeased, and ordered the picture to be placed in a large hall,
and directed his wives and children to go to see it. After this the
ambassador was invited to dine with him three times, and was finally
dismissed with a present of twelve coats of mail, thirty lances,
and two horses. The despatch has not yet arrived, but I fear that the
ambassador has died, for he was very ill at Nangasaque. The information
which I give your Majesty was gained from a letter of his. [20]

In compliance with your Majesty's orders, and after investigating the
embarrassments of the royal treasury, I have cashiered two companies
commanded by two of my relatives, thereby saving expenses to the
treasury of more than two thousand pesos a year; but if you consider
it best for your Majesty's service to extend the reduction somewhat,
it shall be done.

Within this city I have made an impregnable refuge, which is bounded
on one side by the sea and on another by the river; while on the
land side one thousand armed men can, if sufficiently provisioned,
defend it against one hundred thousand. I am uneasy, however, because
Nueva Espana neglects this important post. The troops sent me from
that country are useless, and the majority of them are unarmed. The
captains deprive the soldiers of their wages, and I have a hundred
such complaints. I have sent advices of everything to the Conde
de Monterrey, [21] in order that he may correct this evil, for the
reparation thereof belongs to him. Your Majesty's service will be
furthered by giving orders to this effect.

I beseech your Majesty to order that, for the use of the troops
of this camp, eight hundred arquebuses, four hundred muskets, and
three hundred coats of mail be brought from Spain; for the troops
are unarmed and your Majesty is put to much useless expense. I should
wish never to have been born if, on any occasion, this kingdom could
not be defended for your Majesty, for lack of arms.

I have found