esides other sources of income,
an encomienda--that of Jalapa, a prosperous village near Mexico. Here
there is at present nothing with which to undertake any enterprise,
unless your Majesty is pleased that some village be given them as
an encomienda, in order that from the tributes may be obtained means
to defray the necessary expenses, and conduct the public business in
such manner as your Majesty shall order. With that they will be well
content. The governor despatched a soldier to Maluco to ascertain
what conclusion the Portuguese of those islands had reached. He
returned almost at the same time as the ship from Nueba Espana,
with the news which the governor will write to your Majesty. This
news gave great satisfaction to all the people of these islands,
because your Majesty's interests are thereby promoted, since our Lord
has placed in your Majesty's hands the spice-trade of Maluco, which
your ancestors so greatly desired. I am sending the letter which the
captain at Maluco wrote me, in order that it may please your Majesty to
reward generously so worthy a Portuguese as this man is--who certainly
has displayed great zeal in your Majesty's service--not forgetting
him who obtained and bore the news. This is Ensign Francisco de
Duenas, a very intelligent man, and very reliable in his own duties,
who by his energy and diligence succeeded with this undertaking,
in which others had failed. He is an old soldier in these islands,
and has served your Majesty well in times of war. He is loved by all
in this city, and has a good reputation on account of his excellent
qualities. He is a person to whom anything whatever may be entrusted;
he is very faithful, and a very good Christian. Will your Majesty
please order that some reward be given to him? because he merits it,
and because others may thereby be encouraged. I also beg that the
Portuguese soldiers of Maluco may be in some way rewarded for the
affection with which they ask your Majesty to be their king and lord.

In the letter written to me by the captain, he complains that I have
not written to him; and he has reason for this--although the blame
was not mine; for the governor wrote to the captain without saying
anything to me, as he has done in other undertakings. I do not say
this to speak ill of the governor, but only that your Majesty may
know how affairs go here, and what respect is paid to the bishops.

In regard to Maluco, your Majesty will send some one there who