There is great need in these regions of Franciscan, Dominican, and Theatin religious, and of some ecclesiastics, for the conversion of the natives.  The Theatins are much and especially needed; for, as an eyewitness, I know the great results that they have obtained in Yndia.  With the coming of more people, it will be necessary to found a few Spanish settlements in this island of Lucon, which is large, and in other islands; for already these natives are being baptized daily, and are embracing our holy faith and religion.  They are very quiet and reconciled, and will be more so when many religious of the said orders have arrived; for at present we have only ten Augustinian religious here, and they are not sufficient for the great labor demanded of them.  I repeat that the service of your Majesty requires the presence here of Franciscan religious and of some Theatins.

This year we have brought from the island of Bindanao three hundred quintals of cinnamon for your Majesty.  This ship, being small, will carry no more than eighty quintals, so that we have here three hundred and fifty quintals more to send in the ships which may come later.

I am also sending to Nueva Espana cinnamon plants, and pepper plants of the round and large variety; also roots taken from Chinese stock, so that they may be raise here for your Majesty.

I am sending a bundle of cinnamon branches with leaves, and three flasks of cinnamon water, for her Majesty the Queen, our lady.

Last year I sent to your Majesty in this ship a cup and fourteen earrings of gold.  Now I do the same, and add four daggers of the kind used by these natives.

For his Highness the prince our master, I am sending a crown, two gold chains, and two daggers.  Not considering the objects themselves, or the person who sends them, may your Majesty accept them as articles sent from regions so far away, with the desire of serving your Majesty.

For the good management of your royal exchequer, we need two men to fill the offices of treasurer and of factor.  These offices are vacant at present; for while the governor Miguel Lopez lived I served as treasurer, but at his death I succeeded him in his charge, and sent the factor under arrest to Nueva Espana for certain charges made against him.  Your Majesty will also see that we are supplied with an attorney-general, for we are in much need of one.

Juan de Ledesma and Valmaseda, your Majesty’s secretaries, sent to this your camp three of your royal decrees, in which we are ordered not to fill again the office of purveyor-general or any other office in these islands; and that from the gold, silver, and jewels discovered, the royal fifths shall be taken. [98] This will be heeded and carried out according to the orders of your Majesty.  I am also ordered to send a report concerning the slaves of these islands, how and for what reasons they are enslaved; and also concerning the Augustinian religious who are here.  In fulfilment of the latter command, I say that at present there are only ten religious of the said order in these islands.  As to the slaves, I am sending to the members of your Royal Council of the Indies the report which your Majesty orders me to make, and in which I explain the conditions and causes of their slavery. [99]