bor demanded of
them. I repeat that the service of your Majesty requires the presence
here of Franciscan religious and of some Theatins.

This year we have brought from the island of Bindanao three hundred
quintals of cinnamon for your Majesty. This ship, being small, will
carry no more than eighty quintals, so that we have here three hundred
and fifty quintals more to send in the ships which may come later.

I am also sending to Nueva Espana cinnamon plants, and pepper plants
of the round and large variety; also roots taken from Chinese stock,
so that they may be raise here for your Majesty.

I am sending a bundle of cinnamon branches with leaves, and three
flasks of cinnamon water, for her Majesty the Queen, our lady.

Last year I sent to your Majesty in this ship a cup and fourteen
earrings of gold. Now I do the same, and add four daggers of the kind
used by these natives.

For his Highness the prince our master, I am sending a crown, two
gold chains, and two daggers. Not considering the objects themselves,
or the person who sends them, may your Majesty accept them as articles
sent from regions so far away, with the desire of serving your Majesty.

For the good management of your royal exchequer, we need two men to
fill the offices of treasurer and of factor. These offices are vacant
at present; for while the governor Miguel Lopez lived I served as
treasurer, but at his death I succeeded him in his charge, and sent
the factor under arrest to Nueva Espana for certain charges made
against him. Your Majesty will also see that we are supplied with an
attorney-general, for we are in much need of one.

Juan de Ledesma and Valmaseda, your Majesty's secretaries, sent to
this your camp three of your royal decrees, in which we are ordered
not to fill again the office of purveyor-general or any other office in
these islands; and that from the gold, silver, and jewels discovered,
the royal fifths shall be taken. [98] This will be heeded and carried
out according to the orders of your Majesty. I am also ordered to
send a report concerning the slaves of these islands, how and for
what reasons they are enslaved; and also concerning the Augustinian
religious who are here. In fulfilment of the latter command, I say that
at present there are only ten religious of the said order in these
islands. As to the slaves, I am sending to the members of your Royal
Council of the Indies the report which your Majesty orders me to make,
an