reductions, of which I inform your Majesty, not
only is there no expense incurred in this company but there is even
a saving of money for the following reasons. In recent times there
have been eight companies of infantry for the guard of the city; but
immediately upon my arrival, I reduced them to six. When I sent the
reenforcements to Terrenate--for two hundred Spaniards went there in
three companies, and one hundred Pampangos (who are as good and as
faithful here as are the Burgundians in Flandes)--and the guard of
the city remained in four companies, seeing that it was impossible
to cover the posts and to stand guard with so few men, I ordered
two hundred Pampangos to be enrolled into two companies, so that now
there are the six hundred necessary guardsmen. The Pampangos are in
place of the two hundred Spaniards who went [to Terrenate]. Seeing
that the said Spaniards are lacking, there is nothing but to appeal
to the Pampangos; they are being instructed, and are managing their
arms in a manner that makes me very well satisfied with them. Both
the captains and other officers, and the soldiers, receive half the
pay of the Spaniards. Thus the two companies of Pampangos cause your
Majesty an expense of ten thousand pesos, and that of the cavalry
seven thousand, making a total of seventeen thousand pesos. The
two infantry companies which were here before caused an expense of
twenty-two thousand pesos or thereabouts; so, if the former expense
was this amount, and that of the Pampangos and the cavalry now is
seventeen thousand, there is an annual saving of five thousand pesos
to your Majesty. There are thirty more soldiers than before. Will
your Majesty please have this approved and look favorably upon it;
and believe that I am spending your Majesty's revenue with great
care, and that I can have no scruple of conscience in what I am
doing. Your Majesty will learn the truth of this by experience, in a
short time. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty,
as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, the last of June, 1636. Sire,
your vassal kisses your Majesty's feet.

Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera

_Revision of pay and rations made September 4, 1635_

Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, knight of the Order of Alcantara,
member of his Majesty's Council, member of the Council of War in the
States of Flandes, governor and captain-general of these Filipinas
Islands, and president of the royal Audiencia, residen