it is advisable to allow to remain in this city is also being lessened, and only those sufficient for its service are left.  By that means, I trust in our Lord that we can withstand our enemies’ designs.  Those designs, as we have heard, are to besiege this city, or the forts of Terrenate, or to establish themselves in Otton in your Majesty’s fort on the point of Ylo Ylo.  I trust in His Divine Majesty that they will not succeed in their attempt, for, although we have so few forces, we will resist to the utmost until your Majesty shall furnish those forces advisable for greater results in your royal service.

All of these things, although so considerable, could be endured, if the royal treasury had the sum requisite for affairs so difficult.  But I can assure your Majesty with entire truth that the need of your treasury is so pressing now that it is incomparable.  Not less so is the barrenness of this country, which was formerly and usually the last resource.  Consequently there is so universal misery that no words could exaggerate it to your Majesty.

During the month of last April occurred a somewhat sharp encounter between Governor Don Alonso Fajardo and Auditor Don Alvaro de Mesa y Lugo, on going into the assembly hall—­in which, according to report, the auditor was somewhat lavish of words.  For that reason the governor had him arrested and imprisoned in the cabildo’s halls, where he was kept a few days, until he left his prison and retired into the convent of St. Dominic of this city, where he still is—­as your Majesty will learn more fully by the judicial reports that were sent you in regard to this matter, and to which I refer.

All these exhibitions of temper and anger result from what I have pointed out to your Majesty in many other letters.  They will exist as long as there is an Audiencia and auditors in this city.  I base this assertion on the arguments and reasons that my experience during the time of my residence in these islands has shown me.  Again referring to several of those reasons, I shall mention here only three to your Majesty:  first, that the auditors have so few causes to judge that there are no more than those of four Indians in regard to their houseplots and lands—­in which they finally spend more in costs than the principal over which they are litigating; the second because the auditors are stubbornly opposed to the governors, for which reason the latter cannot attain success in many things, and your Majesty’s service suffers.  The aim of the auditors is naught else than to get all the posts for their relatives, intimates, and comrades; but with these many retired captains can be recompensed, who have served and serve your Majesty here whenever necessary, without return or pay.  When their requests are not granted, these men withdraw to their homes, which causes the country to be divided into factions and parties.  The third reason is the number of pesos that your Majesty would save from the salaries of the auditors and other