such manner that all shall be peaceful and that scandal
shall cease--for this is the sole cause of bad government, of justice
losing its prestige, and of those who are appointed to remedy evils
being the authors thereof. In order to do away with this, I have had
letters written to the other auditors (a copy of which is sent you),
warning them that they must be subject to your person, and maintain
the respect and ceremony due to you by virtue of your office. Of the
rest which you mention in that clause I have been informed.

As for what you say in regard to not considering it expedient for my
royal service that the order which I have given should be executed
which directs that, on the death of the governors of those islands,
the duties of the office of captain-general should be exercised by
the oldest auditor of that Audiencia; and what seems best to you
to provide in this matter in order to do away with the difficulties
which might be feared if, the licentiate Andres de Alcaraz being gone,
the licentiate Jeronimo de Legaspi should enter upon the said office,
as he is the next oldest auditor, considering the scandal and evil
example with which he and his son, Don Antonio de Legaspi, are living:
may God be pleased to grant you health, so that this thing will not
happen which you wish to anticipate; and for this office there are
always persons appointed, and therefore you need not be anxious about
this. Since you show so much dissatisfaction with the said licentiate
Jeronimo de Legaspi, and he and his son have conducted themselves
ill, you will make such investigation as seems most fitting to you;
and with the results thereof you will prefer charges against him,
together with his answers thereto, and send them to my Council, so
that, having examined the documents, they may provide a remedy. I send
you a commission for this with this letter, and you are warned that
your principal duty as president is to watch and be attentive to the
method of procedure of every one of the officials who are dependents of
this government. With which I charge your conscience, and warn you of
the account which you have to give to our Lord therefor, that you may
proceed in a manner not to intimidate justice, nor to propose anything
which shall not be purely for the service of His Divine Majesty, and
the relief of your conscience and mine. Accordingly, let it be noted
that you favor your friends with commendatory reports, or injure those
who are