e great inconvenience which results
from the non-residence of encomenderos in this country, I vacated the
said encomiendas, as it seemed to me that your Majesty would not be
served by giving a dispensation to the said mariscal in this matter;
and I would not have made the report which I made in Mexico if I had
previously seen the documents. [_Marginal note_: "Let this be filed
with the papers which deal with this matter."]

Although, as I have said, I assigned the said encomienda to the
said Don Juan Ronquillo, appeal was taken on the part of the said
mariscal and his son (who was successor to the encomienda) to this
royal Audiencia. In this case, after command had been given that a
copy of the documents should be furnished to the parties and to the
fiscal of your Majesty, and after testimony had been taken as regards
the claims of all parties, it was declared that I had authority to
vacate the encomiendas of the said mariscal; and it was decreed that
the parties should exercise their rights of justice, in conformity
with the law of Malinas. [7] It was further decreed that the said
General Don Juan Rronquillo should give bonds that, if at any time it
should be decreed that I did not have this authority to assign the said
encomiendas, he should return the income which he should have collected
therefrom. This decree was, on review, confirmed in all points, and
the case is being prosecuted. I may say to your Majesty that General
Don Juan Rronquillo is one of the most deserving men of the islands,
and one of the highest rank and services here; and further that he
is one of those who received the least rewards. He deserves that
some favor should be shown to him, as I have previously written. I
may add that on account of the aforesaid grant I have discharged him
from the office of commander of the galleys, which had been granted
to him with eight hundred pesos of yearly salary. If this sum is not
paid to him, it is certainly necessary that some compensation should
be made to him; and if in this matter that is not carried out which is
ordained by the royal decrees--which were formerly so closely followed,
especially in this country--much harm will result.

The affairs of Christianity in Japon are in excellent condition,
as your Majesty will see from the letters of two religious which are
enclosed; but the dissensions between the bishop and the religious
orders with regard to those who go by way of these islands to
engage in