of his Majesty referred to in the letter of January
11, 93, sent to Gomez Perez das Marinas, governor of the Filipinas,
permission is given to the viceroy of Nueva Espana to appoint the
pilots and officers of the ships bound for the Filipinas.

Complaint is now made of this, from the islands, that there is great
expense to the royal exchequer, in that the viceroys, in order that
there may be offices in which to place their followers, multiply
those of the ships; and, although they have the right to appoint one
pilot to a ship, they appoint a captain-general and many accompanying
him, an admiral, and many captains of infantry, a sargento-mayor, a
royal sub-lieutenant, sub-lieutenants of the companies, and a royal
alguazil. All these are persons of little experience, who are going
to seek their fortunes in the Filipinas at his Majesty's expense;
and they deprive the citizens of their offices.

Information is given, by a letter from the fiscal of the Filipinas,
that but one pilot is sufficient for the ships; that the troops should
be under the command of the captain or master of the ship, without
increase of salary to said captain or master. Thus the aforesaid
officers of the troops may be dispensed with, and one gunner suffices
for each piece or every two pieces of artillery.

Sixth Point

_The losses of ships which have been employed in the Filipinas trade,
and the cause thereof._

Through news brought by the ship "Santa Potenciana" in the year
601, it seems that the ships "San Geronimo," and "Santa Margarita,"
which sailed in the year 600, lost their masts in a storm; and the
"Santa Margarita" drifted to the island of the Ladrones, and the
"San Geronimo" to Luzon, near Catanduanes. Both were driven ashore
in February, 601, without being able to save themselves. This loss
is attributed by some to disagreement among the officers, and by
others to the late sailing of the ships, and to a lack of sailors,
and (what is more nearly correct) to the general overloading of the
vessels. The ship "Santo Tomas" was lost also on the voyage out, near
the channel at Catanduanes; the hulk was lost with some supplies,
small wares, and two millions or more of silver, besides the 500,000
pesos which were allowed to be carried.

Seventh Point

_What property may be taken to the Filipinas, and where it goes._

By the sixth point it appears that in the ship "Sant Tomas" alone,
which was lost at the entrance of Catanduanes, ther