but I assure your Majesty that the Audiencia does more harm
than good, as is manifest from the many arguments adduced in regard
to this matter; and there is justice there for no one, except when
it suits the pleasure or convenience of some auditor or auditors,
because the more care is exercised to make them administer justice,
the more they pervert it when they wish to, using the freedom to vote
which belongs to them. On the occasion of the unfortunate event which
happened to me on the night of the twelfth of May past [23]--and it
was so important and serious an affair, as your Majesty already knows,
or will learn by the judicial record and papers regarding the matter,
which I despatched by way of Nueva Spana and am now despatching via
India--they made (although I am their president) no more demonstration
against the agents, go-betweens, and apologists who were guilty in
this affair than if it had concerned the most wretched and degraded
of the Chinamen who go about here. As it was my own case, and as I
was satisfied in regard to the principal matter that concerned me
(thanks be to God), I did not wish to exercise my authority in the
case; but it may be seen to what lengths the blindness of their
desires and passions leads them.

I have already despatched the supplies to Terrenate, and to the island
of Panay. The larger ships of this expedition will carry the cargo
that is to be brought thence, and the smaller vessels will go to
join the larger ones with the supplies from here inside of two days,
with the aid of God; may He convey in safety the relief for those
places. It is quite sufficient, and is sent earlier than in former
years--although there are not many soldiers for it, on account of
the number which I have sent in past years, and because we have here
a very small force. I have had good news from those forts that, for
the present, they have no enemies, according to what they write from
there, thanks to His Divine Majesty.

In the principal island of the Celeves, otherwise known as that of
Matheo, and by still others as that of Macazar, [24] as the chief man
of that island is lord of that region, there is, at a certain point
of it, a strait which makes an islet. This waterway was recently
discovered, and by it there is a better route to Terrenate than
was formerly followed. According to the information given me a post
can be occupied there, whereby this passage (which is very narrow)
can be guarded, and the ene