s would be the necessity
of obeying, pleasing, and satisfying such leaders.

Until your Majesty shall appoint persons to the government of
Terrenate or to the position of master-of-camp of this place, who,
in such case [_i.e._, the death of the governor], might act in this
capacity--providing for it by the usual methods and appointments,
or as might be more pleasing to your Majesty--I cannot find here any
person whose ability for this is equal to that of the archbishop. He
is a man of force, system, and executive ability; and, in my opinion,
he will lose nothing of the authority and preeminences of the office,
or of the jurisdiction and power that your Majesty might grant him;
for I regard it as certain that he would not err in his government
through having less knowledge than the auditors, and in it would make
arrangements for greater efforts and aid to military affairs and those
who engage therein. The latter would be advantaged by him, for even
in this, although it is not his profession, I consider him as having
more decision and effective energy than the said [auditors] have.

And that it may not appear that I am in every case speaking of them
in general terms (my intention being to tell the plain truth, without
reserve or any other consideration than the telling of it), I declare
what I believe: namely, that if Doctor Don Antonio Rodriguez--who is
the latest auditor, and has not much health or maturity of years--had
resided here longer I would trust his executive ahility in preference
to that of the two others here, whom I do not consider very capable,
for the reasons explained in other letters and in this; for as has
been seen by experience, he shows himself to be a man of greater
knowledge and prudence, and of great sagacity. However, for a long
time there have been rumors (and not few) that he has been the one
who has disturbed the minds of his associates, writing, advising,
and counseling them secretly. But by his not approving the object
of such things, and by his keeping aloof from the others, for that
reason and something of this having been well understood, I do not
consider it as certain or sure; and in other things outside of this
(except that it seems to me that he is anxious to grow rich quickly)
I consider him as a man of good method, very prudent and well informed,
and one who takes pride in appearing to be a good judge.

[_Marginal note_: "Council. May our Lord be pleased to grant you
health, so t