Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the seal of the Fisherman, March 25, 1592, in the first year of our pontificate.

Letter from Gomez Perez Dasmarinas to the King

Sire: 

By two ships which sailed from this port for Mexico at the end of June, 1591, I wrote your Majesty, advising you of everything here, in duplicate, sending a copy in each ship.  Afterward, on the eighteenth of October (same year), by a fragata sailing to Malaca and Eastern India, I wrote later events, and sent the duplicate of the letters.  As that route is not considered very safe, I send this, combining both reports, written in fuller detail—­fearing least perchance, on account of the many accidents which have taken place on the sea in these years, all the letters have been lost.  I cannot help fearing so because, as I write this, a ship has just arrived from Mexico, by which I have received no letter from your Majesty; nor have I received one since I have been in charge of this government—­although, praise be to God, I have had good news of the health of your Majesty.  For this I return infinite thanks to God, and pray that it may continue, and that He may give your Majesty complete success in all the new cares and anxieties which may present themselves.  I am confident that His Divine Majesty will give long life to your Majesty, in order that everything may be ordered and arranged according to the needs of Christianity.

Supposing that the duplicates of the letters aforesaid have been received, this letter will be more brief, in order not to repeat herein what has been said elsewhere.  It is now necessary to describe in general the state of this land, although this year has been very unfortunate, deaths and sickness being common among both Indians and Spaniards; and we are also pressed hard and threatened by enemies, as your Majesty will learn by a separate letter.  As to the general quiet and tranquillity of this state and kingdom, it has never been better; for great progress is being made in the strengthening and adornment of public buildings, both ecclesiastical and state.

Hitherto the Spaniards have not experienced misfortune, but much profit in traffic; and trade [with Nueva Espana] is being regulated and put in order.  The natives are content and happy; the Chinese are more fond of trading with the merchandise which they bring from that kingdom.  There came this year twenty-eight ships with much merchandise, including very rich goods of silk and other articles.  The religious are agreed among themselves, and aside from the bishop, everything is quiet as it should be—­except in some few matters, of which I will give an account to your Majesty.  The encomenderos have more peace of conscience than they have heretofore had, and justice is equitably administered in the districts of the alcaldes and the villages of the Indians; and, finally, everything which my poor strength could accomplish has been done for the common tranquillity and good government.  As I realize my little worth and ability, I would wish it to be known how much I desire and strive to accomplish in the service of God and your Majesty.