equipment
of ships, or when some expedition is being made for the service of
your Majesty, in which case a few Indians are taken. This cannot be
dispensed with, because transportation in these islands is entirely by
sea, and it is necessary to make levies for rowing the vessels. The
same necessity obliges the encomenderos, the religious, and other
persons who go from one part to another, to do the same thing. They
are always paid justly for their work, and thus far it is not known
that any grievance has been done them in any manner, nor have they
been left unrecompensed. Great care will be taken that affairs shall
be so conducted that they will live content, and the work be secured
without harshness. May our Lord protect your Majesty many years,
according to the needs of Christendom. Manila, July 2, 1603. [_In
the margin_: "Let it be done as they say that they are doing."]

_Don Pedro de Acuna_

The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_

The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_

The licentiate _Andres de Alcaraz_

The licentiate _Manuel de Madrid y Luna_

[_Endorsed_: "Philipinas: to his Majesty; the Audiencia, July 2,
1603. Examined June 30, 604; provided within."]

LETTER FROM THE FISCAL

Sire:

The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for his Majesty in
the royal Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands. The most important
reason why the said royal Audiencia is necessary is to redress the
wrongs which the governor and captain-general may commit. Although he
who is now in the office acts in a prudent manner, he may be succeeded
by another who will not do so, and, if this were the case, nothing
could be so suitable as that he who was governor and captain-general
should not be president; for if he is so, he will be present at the
hearings and meetings, in which case neither the auditors in decreeing,
nor the fiscal in petitioning, use the power which they hold. An easy
remedy for this would be that the archbishop of Manila should be the
president of the Audiencia, his salary being somewhat increased, and
that of the governor and captain-general decreased. He would be glad
to do this and would not neglect the affairs of his archbishopric,
which are not so pressing as to make it impossible for him to take
up the duties of the presidency. I might well cite some things which
I have seen, which appear to me to demonstrate the inconveniences
which might follow from all three offices being joined in o