d books of his Majesty's accountancy, to which I refer.

In certification of the above, and in order that by the same it may
be manifest, I give the present--by command of the most excellent
Don Martin Enrriquez, viceroy, governor, and captain-general for his
Majesty in this Nueva Espana--in duplicate, in Mexico, on the second
day of March in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-three.

_Melchior de Legazpi_

[_Endorsed_: "Expenses incurred by the royal estate for the expedition
to the Western Islands in the years dlxjx. lxx. lxxij."]

Affairs in the Philippines After the Death of Legazpi

Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty:

When I came to these islands in company with the general Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, I gave your Majesty an account of the events of
the expedition. Since then I have not done so, understanding that
the governor sent word by every ship, as was proper, how affairs were
going here. Now was our Lord pleased to take him from this life, and I,
being treasurer of the royal exchequer, succeeded him in the office
by a royal provision, emanating from the royal _Audiencia_ of Nueva
Espana. To make myself better understood, your Majesty perhaps knows
that in the year forty-two, I came to these regions as accountant,
with General Villalobos, who sailed from Nueva Espana, sent out by
the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoca. I was in the Maluco Islands,
and went thence to Yndia and from there to Espana and Nueva Espana,
to inform your viceroy of the success of the expedition. I brought
with me from Yndia the ginger root, which has grown so well in Nueva
Espana. Don Antonio de Mendoca sent me to Espana to inform your Majesty
of the proceedings that should be taken in this discovery. After that
mission, I returned with your Majesty's despatch to Nueva Espana,
where they were commencing to build the ships and fleet in which
General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came for the discovery of these
islands. In his company, I passed thither, for the second time, in
the year sixty-four--serving your Majesty as treasurer of your royal
exchequer until, as I have said, Miguel Lopez died, on the twentieth
of August in last year, seventy-two.

In a chest was found the royal decree, by which, in your
Majesty's name, he enjoyed and exercised his office as governor and
captain-general. Before his death, the said Miguel Lopez had founded,
on the island of Cubu, where we first resided, a city called El
Santisimo Nombre de Jes