of
those who have come this year from Nueva Espana. If I can increase it
to a greater number, I shall do so, by changing some of the soldiers
who have been there so many years, and leaving those that shall be
necessary for the defense of those forts. I shall also try to send
two galleys, as galleys are more important among those islands than
among any other parts of the islands of this region. I would already
have sent those soldiers, if the season had not hindered, after the
Dutch had left here; and until then it was impossible to divide the
forces which were being collected to oppose them.

I have had many loud complaints from the forts of Terrenate, written
by religious and laymen, of the governor there, Lucas de Bergara
Gaviria--not only of his asperity and harsh government, but of his lack
of balance in other things. Since these complaints were so numerous,
I was obliged to get the opinion and resolution of the members of
this royal Audiencia; but at the same time came letters from Lucas de
Bergara Gaviria, asking permission to resign his post. Consequently
I was forced to seek some one to go there. After nominating for
that post the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silba, as one to whom
your Majesty had entrusted that government, he excused himself from
going there, with arguments that he advanced for it. Accordingly
the master-of-camp, Don Luis de Bracamonte, was appointed in his
stead. Although I consider the latter a man of so good qualities,
that I know of no one here who is better than he, still--both because
he goes with little desire to stay there (as he shows), and because
the choice of the one who must go to those islands will be very much
better if made by your Majesty's Council--I beg you to be pleased to
have the choice made, and to order that the person appointed for it
go immediately to discharge his duties.

I do not altogether believe what is said and written about Lucas de
Bergara Gaviria, as this is a country where accusation is practiced
considerably, and even the giving of false testimonies; and in this
way some men make themselves feared. Such men have even obtained in
that way what they have not merited by other and lawful means. And
notwithstanding that in the long time that elapses before the truth
is established, the rival suffers, there is no one who will not
[finally] bear the stigma [of his wrongdoing], and especially if any
religious are dissatisfied. In such cases, there is nothing