commend him to your Majesty's eyes, could
not console me at seeing him separated from me. For I do not know how
one who wishes to rule aright can have anything more to his taste than
such a counselor and one of so great experience in matters--such an
one whom, until now, I have been unable to have. And since I was so
assured of his good qualities, when I was about to embark in the fleet
to fight the Dutch fleet, I persuaded the said licentiate Alcaraz,
that if I died on that occasion, under no considerations was he to
forsake this country and the Audiencia until your Majesty should
have taken measures for all things. Although I gave clear reasons
for it, namely the long experience of the said licentiate Alcaraz
and other reasons, without thus touching on my distrust of the good
government of the other two auditors--although I could perhaps give
some different reason, if it were necessary--such was the spite that
those two exhibited toward us, that Licentiate Alcaraz tried to avoid
the charge of the government. At the end he conquered me and convinced
me to have Don Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano, archbishop elect of this
city, summoned to aid him in it; he was then absent from the city. The
latter is one in whom, besides his qualifications of devotion,
virtue, and learning, combine other qualities so good that they can
commend him for governments more important than this. Accordingly he
came to me at my request, and at the same entreaty he is staying,
and is daily putting me under new obligations to him, the greatest
of which is my seeing him so intent on and inclined to the service
of your Majesty, both in whatever pertains to his own office and
in what can aid me in mine. To conclude the account of what ensued
with the auditors--Licentiate Geronimo de Legaspi y Echabarria and
Doctor Don Albaro de Messa y Lugo--I shall say that whether for the
causes here written, or because of restraining them and trying to
reduce them to harmony and a desirable moderation; or because the
correction of justice is also overtaking the members of their families
(a matter on which I could debate by writing more); or, finally,
whether it be by deductions from these things (which I know not),
the two have so grudged their courtesies that they do not visit me
since I have come from outside--although I have been careful to go
to their houses oftener than was sufficient. Neither do their wives
visit mine. Will your Majesty be pleased to have them