ters from Auditor Messa y Lugo to the King

Sire:

Immediately upon my arrival in this country, I informed your Majesty,
at the first opportunity, of everything possible, both of the condition
in which I found affairs here, and of what I could conjecture in the
beginning made by the new governor, Don Alonso Fajardo--of whom I
immediately conceived suspicions and fears--and in the little that I
saw of the beginnings of his government, by which he would not satisfy
the need of the country for justice and [good] administration. Then in
my next despatch, [26] [I informed you how this idea was confirmed]
by the demonstrations which may be called want of prudence; then, at
intervals, I continued to add to my letters whatever occurred that was
more intimately connected with this particular. Thus have I been doing
on all the other occasions when ships have sailed from this country,
both for Mexico and via Yndia, in addition to what the Audiencia has
written to your Majesty. Although it has been impossible to inform
your Majesty so minutely of everything, because it must be done with
all possible caution and secrecy, in order to escape the violence and
force of the governor--who with extraordinary vigilance and solicitude
examines the mails, in order to seize the letters--and this obstacle
has been aided by the multitude of affairs, still less, Sire, can that
be attempted now when they have an exact number. But the extravagance
of the governor's actions seems to be in excess of human capacity,
and of such sort that, although it be morally impossible to point
them out, it is more impossible, even when inadequately described, to
believe them; for in my opinion it is incredible when spoken or heard,
and scarce will be believed when seen, at least to men who recognize
the loyalty that they owe to their God and their king. Accordingly,
and as it is so necessary, in order to fulfil the obligations of my
conscience, to inform my king, continuing the account that I have given
hitherto of the wretched condition to which the governor has reduced
the country (and this cannot be specific and particular, because of
the multitude of his reckless acts or excesses, as above stated), I
shall relate, as succinctly as possible, some little that will serve
as an indication of what I shall leave unsaid. Hence, Sire, I say
that, from what we see here, what the governor is doing is to expend
your Majesty's royal revenues on the one hand, uselessly,