rnor, against whom, as it seems, they show themselves always
in league. They always make declarations of grievances [against him],
because they are not each one given, as used to be and is the custom
here, whatever they may ask for their sons, relatives, and servants;
and they habitually discredit the governor by launching through secret
channels false and malicious reports, and afterward securing witnesses
of their publicity. They even, as I have written to your Majesty,
manage to have religious and preachers publish these reports--to which
end, and for his own security, each one of the auditors has formed an
alliance with the religious order which receives him best. As I have
given your Majesty an account of this matter and of the actions of
the said auditors--which in God and my conscience I know to be true,
and which will be evident by the depositions and papers which I have
sent and am today sending with a letter and relation giving particulars
regarding this matter--I shall not go more into detail thereon in this
letter; I refer you for its substantiation to the said documents, and
to the fact that I consider this government much more difficult, with
the auditors of this Audiencia, than it is or would be even if there
were more war, for that war which they cause within its boundaries
appears beyond remedy, on account of their abilities and rank. If your
Majesty be not pleased to withdraw them from here I beg you, as I owe
it to your royal service, that you will take measures so that in no
way and at no time shall they be able to succeed to the government
of this land; for I hold it beyond a doubt that they will bring it
to ruin, and destroy it in a very short time, even though there came
to it no more enemies than that of their own tendencies. If I wrote
to your Majesty, in the first days after my arrival here, that the
auditors were not necessary except for the Audiencia sessions, I beg
now that more be added. It appeared to me that for the citizens and
for the affairs of these islands, those who were here were sufficient;
at present I am of the opinion that if the presence of this tribunal
must be continued, more members are necessary, in order to avoid
the difficulty which has been found to result from the alliance of
Doctors Don Alvaro de Mesa, and Don Antonio Rodriguez, for neither more
nor less justice can be secured than they choose, and they are even
disturbing the government and good order which ought to pr