continued, which is our greatest desire. If the captain of
infantry tries to take up the duties of the master-of-camp, and the
soldier those of the captain or of the general, it will go ill with
the war. I am sending the Council the letter which I am writing to
the pope--first, because I wish that the Council should see first
what I have to say to the pope, that they should place it before
the pope, and that everything may be done by his order. In this way
everything will be regular, and, God willing, we shall achieve the
desired result. In the second place I have not and do not desire
any agent, because through the mercy of God, I solicit nothing for
my private interests, but only for the service of God and that of my
king. It seems to me sufficient to write what I think, to the Council,
so that those lords may attend to it, since that is their affair;
and they and their consciences will be excellent solicitors for the
adjustment of the matters that I write about, and the zeal of your
Grace will make up for my shortcomings and remedy matters here,
for I promise you there are many.

Concerning myself I may say that I am well, thanks to God. Those
who manage the royal exchequer have treated me according to my
deserts. It is impossible for me to live unless this be remedied,
for in this misery which has been decreed for me, they have through
a whole year accorded me no more than one third, amounting to
six hundred and some odd pesos of eight reals. The expense which
I undergo is excessive, although I brought with me only one boy,
and at most two persons. I have not even anyone to help me at mass,
although in so new and unsettled a country. I am forced to go from one
part to another; and, as there are no beasts of burden and everything
has to be borne on men's shoulders, even if one is only bringing the
articles necessary to say mass, it costs a great deal of money. I am
in such a condition that I have not even a chasuble in which to say
the ordinary mass. I have even worn shoes with holes, which showed
the bare flesh, and perhaps there was nothing with which to buy
others. I do not ask for more income; I only ask that the decree of
his Majesty be obeyed in my behalf--that instruction shall be paid
for in the same place with the tributes from that place. I would be
satisfied if only that which was ordered to be given me were paid
me in my bishopric, from the tributes and the treasury thereof, in
the province of Ilocos; f