lose my seniority, from the
day when your Majesty was pleased to appoint me auditor in Mexico
(especially as I have been occupied in what I was commanded to do),
as was done with Doctor Francisco Alonso de Villagra when he went to
fill the same post at Mexico; he was detained by an official visit
at Santo Domingo, and did not lose his seniority, [_In the margin_:
"What he asks is unreasonable."]

Last year two ships were despatched somewhat late, and the flagship
arrived in a dismantled condition at the end of four or five months of
sailing, with little damage; but the other was lost on the opposite
coast of these islands, without any person or any part of her cargo
being saved. This was a great pity, and especially so after so many
wrecks as we have had in years past. God was pleased to bring hither
in safety two other ships, which go out this year, which has been some
relief to the citizens and merchants of this city. [_In the margin_:
"No answer to be given."]

The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal of this royal
Audiencia, is dead. He leaves his wife in very poor circumstances
and a daughter who is without any resources, which is a great pity.

In a letter of last year I told your Majesty how the sargento-mayor
went to La Laguna, which is about fifteen leguas from this city,
in pursuit of the Sangley rebels. As they were in two bodies of
at least two thousand each, unarmed, wounded, and fatigued, and
without any means of defense; and the sargento-mayor had two hundred
Spanish arquebusiers, and three hundred others from Pampanga who are
natives of these islands, armed with arquebuses and muskets, and eight
hundred well-armed Japonese, besides five or six thousand natives with
lances, pikes, halberds, partizans, javelins, and bows and arrows,
their strength was so great that, without the Sangleys facing them,
the natives killed them--attacking first one troop and then the other,
with perfect safety and not the slightest danger. In this affair twelve
or fifteen days were spent in the going, the work, and the return, and
for this he claims more remuneration than if he had pacified the states
of Flandes; and he is not even contented with the governor having given
him an excellent encomienda in the vicinity of this city, besides
another good one which he possesses in Pangasinan. At present he is
enjoying both of them contrary to the instructions of your Majesty,
and they are among the best in the islands.