been accorded to me or to anyone in my behalf.  It is just to believe that in that supreme tribunal, in the presence of your Majesty, injustice will be done to no one—­least of all to me, who have served and am now serving your Majesty with so great integrity and solicitude, and who have had so long an experience.  I am sure that your Majesty will first give me a hearing, and afterwards command that amends be made for my wrongs, by punishing those who have tried to stain my honor and my good reputation in life and character.  This I beseech your Majesty to do, in consideration of my services.

I have great need of an educated assistant, as there is much to be done here in the business of war and government, as well as a great amount of work that must be done in affairs of justice, both civil and criminal.  The trouble here is that the people are of such a nature that, at the same time when justice is done to one, an enemy is made of another person.  I beseech your Majesty to command such provision to be made as shall be fitting for the royal service.

The sub-lieutenant Francisco de Duenas, who, as I have explained in another letter, was sent as envoy to Maluco, came to this city on the twenty-second current.  He brought very good returns, which have given us all great satisfaction, as your Majesty will see by the letters of the chief captain and other private persons, which I am sending through your viceroy of Nueva Espana.  There is also remitted an account of the voyage and its events.  That fortified place is now open for your Majesty’s advantage; [44] and although its chief captain sent me no request for aid, I know that it is necessary to send the same, as well as to pacify the king of Terrenate.  It is very important to understand how desirable it is for that stronghold to prosper, as it is of the greatest advantage for all Nueva Espana.  Consequently, I have been exceedingly troubled by the non-arrival of reenforcements from Nueva Espana during the past two years.  A large number of troops I have assigned to several settlements, as I have already written at greater length.  In the shortest time possible I will send aid to Maluco; and from time to time I shall advise what is done in this respect.

Your Majesty has already been informed how the English pirate [45] set out for Maluco and the Xabas [Java].  In Maluco he formed a friendship with the king of Terrenate, to whom he promised to return in a short time with more forces.  Consequently, I have considered how much more reason there is to believe that they cannot return by the strait of Magallanes—­since I know that that strait is well guarded, and because, since they have gone through it, both Piru and Nueva Espana are warned; they could gain nothing in the expedition, and it would certainly be lost.  No one but the pirate himself knows the route which he took and the channel which he followed to Maluco; and therefore no efforts were made to check him.