t in
charge, I spoke with the auditors about it, and told them that it was
my affair--I being the governor and captain-general, in whose charge
was the defense of the country, and not in that of the Audiencia or
any auditor who was caring for it. They answered me that your Majesty
had entrusted it to them and put it in their charge by a royal decree,
and that each year an auditor was chosen for this commission; and
that, if I wished it, it would be assigned to me in turn, but that
they could not give it up without giving an account thereof to your
Majesty, although they saw that I was right. This troubled me much,
and therefore I advised your Majesty of it in my letter of the eleventh
of July in the past year, one thousand six hundred and two.

Before this uprising of the Sangleys, immediately upon the departure of
the mandarins from here, as some disturbance had resulted from their
coming, among other precautions which I took was that of ordering
the establishment of several infantry captaincies for the natives,
particularly in the provinces of Pampanga, Bulasan, La Laguna de Vay,
Tondo, Bombon, and Calilaya. These are more reasonable people, and
more prosperous and civilized than the other Indians, because they are
nearer the city of Manila, and show more affection for the Spaniards,
and likewise because they have more courage and spirit. I wrote to
the alcaldes-mayor and the fathers; they sent me a memorandum of
those who appeared to them most fit, saying that they had told them
that they should immediately get their people ready and well armed,
each one with rations for a month. While this was being agreed upon,
the uprising took place, and this precaution was of the greatest
importance; for they were able to come without delay, and be of so much
use that without them I know not what would have happened. They are
very proud of being soldiers and of serving your Majesty in military
affairs, and therefore they have proved to be excellent troops. I
have made much of them, given them presents, and thanked them for
what they have done, for which they are grateful, and contented with
whatever may come to them. In every way it has been of the greatest
importance that these natives have lost their fear for the Sangleys,
and have declared against them. There are among them a number of
arquebusiers and musketeers. They are all a people fitted for the work,
and if captained by Spaniards they would be of much use. I have been