Melchior de Legazpi

[Endorsed:  “Expenses incurred by the royal estate for the expedition to the Western Islands in the years dlxjx. lxx. lxxij.”]

Affairs in the Philippines After the Death of Legazpi

Sacred Catholic Royal Majesty: 

When I came to these islands in company with the general Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, I gave your Majesty an account of the events of the expedition.  Since then I have not done so, understanding that the governor sent word by every ship, as was proper, how affairs were going here.  Now was our Lord pleased to take him from this life, and I, being treasurer of the royal exchequer, succeeded him in the office by a royal provision, emanating from the royal Audiencia of Nueva Espana.  To make myself better understood, your Majesty perhaps knows that in the year forty-two, I came to these regions as accountant, with General Villalobos, who sailed from Nueva Espana, sent out by the viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoca.  I was in the Maluco Islands, and went thence to Yndia and from there to Espana and Nueva Espana, to inform your viceroy of the success of the expedition.  I brought with me from Yndia the ginger root, which has grown so well in Nueva Espana.  Don Antonio de Mendoca sent me to Espana to inform your Majesty of the proceedings that should be taken in this discovery.  After that mission, I returned with your Majesty’s despatch to Nueva Espana, where they were commencing to build the ships and fleet in which General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came for the discovery of these islands.  In his company, I passed thither, for the second time, in the year sixty-four—­serving your Majesty as treasurer of your royal exchequer until, as I have said, Miguel Lopez died, on the twentieth of August in last year, seventy-two.

In a chest was found the royal decree, by which, in your Majesty’s name, he enjoyed and exercised his office as governor and captain-general.  Before his death, the said Miguel Lopez had founded, on the island of Cubu, where we first resided, a city called El Santisimo Nombre de Jesus ["the most holy name of Jesus,”] because of an image of the child Jesus that we found there.  Here in this island of Lucon, he founded the city of Manilla, where from that time until his death he resided, with all his people.  He had commenced to levy taxes, and was assigning repartimientos in the islands and towns that were being pacified; and I am now doing the same.  This island of Lucon is large and well populated.  The greater part of it has been explored and reduced to your Majesty’s service.  On account of the lack of men, and the little time that we have spent here, we have not been able to investigate everything.  The land contains many rich gold mines.  The natives in general acquire, possess, and trade great quantities of gold.  The country abounds in provisions—­rice, wine, fish, hogs, Castilian fowls, and wild buffaloes; in short,