under the administration of the royal treasury. After
this had been executed and settled, another royal letter arrived
in which your Majesty granted to the said mariscal the privilege of
receiving his tributes during his absence. When his attorney presented
this letter I opposed it, and declared that it had been obtained
by some improper statement, as I now allege, and as will appear by
the documents which I send. Nevertheless, they commanded that the
encomiendas in charge of the treasury should be returned to him,
bonds being taken; accordingly, they were given to his attorney,
because he himself did not come to demand the fulfilment [of the
Audiencia's decree]. With regard to this matter your Majesty will
take such measures as shall please you--considering that there are
many here who, although they have seen service, still suffer need;
and who are discontented that others should be rich and, even while
absent, enjoy what these men are protecting at so great risk.

The expedition against Mindanao having been arranged during the year
ninety-five with Captain Estevan Rrodriguez de Figueroa, who was
under obligations to carry it out, he began to do so, going thither
in his own person; but in the year ninety-six he died, at the first
assault. The army being unprovided with a commander, the governor of
these islands, Don Francisco Tello, selected one. For the continuation
of this expedition a very great expense was incurred by the command
of the said governor, with the assent and advice of Dr. Antonio de
Morga, his assessor and lieutenant. A suit from the heirs afterward
followed, on the ground that they were not obliged to continue the
expedition, and were not responsible for the expenses thereof. The
Audiencia, as a court of appeal, revoked the governor's command,
and declared the estate free from obligations. I appealed the case
to your Majesty, and sent the original documents. This I did, not
only that the principal case might be decided, but also because
the heirs claim that your Majesty should cause them to be paid for
the expenditure of their property. I offer the advice that even if
they were not obliged to carry out the conquest, your Majesty is not
their debtor, since you have commanded that such conquests are not
to be made on your account and at your cost. Hence these expenses are
owing by him who commanded them to be incurred. Since I have been in
your Majesty's service I have placed this matter in a clear li