top, according to the plan.  The creek of the sea stretches up to the fort, in all about one thousand brazas in length; and while it would not do more, it will serve as a very good trench.  On account of this fort and wall I have increased the import duty here on all articles from China, such as pepper and other things.  Likewise, playing-cards were seized in your Majesty’s name.  With this the work was begun, but was about to stop for lack of funds; and, assuming that your Majesty does not possess them, and orders me also to fortify this city and be responsible for order in it, it seemed best to me to levy a tax for this purpose on the property of all those from different places who were settled here, and on the inhabitants in general.  This I did, charging two per cent, in consideration of the many and great profits.  Inasmuch as this affected the property of the president, the auditors, the bishop, the clergy, and those in benefices, they immediately held secret meetings and declared that I was incurring the censure of the bull of the Lord’s Supper.  As is a very common proceeding for the bishop and the Dominican friars, because I will not let them go to Espana to seek many things from your Majesty “very important to the welfare of these islands,” I am now excommunicated; the Franciscans are now saying the same thing because I have forbidden them to go to China and Japan, and now to Espana.  So great is the freedom and assurance of these saintly folk that they say they will go whether I will or no; that I am the most ill-tempered man in the world, the most cruel, intolerable, and wicked; and that it is from fear that I will not let them go.  In response to this, I say that I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to hear them and peruse their letters, and to appoint a person and time, so that the truth may be known; for, if the truth be known, for me and for the vindication of whatever they may say, I am sure that no man in this country can injure me in the least degree.  This is the truth, and even though other motives unite with malice and evil intention, I am not concerned a maravedi in my honor or another’s honor, or any sign of it.  If this be not so, may neither God nor your Majesty protect me.

What I find here is plenty of debts, which your Majesty owes for the services of the poor Indians, and for the work and material on the public buildings, all of which the Audiencia failed to pay; and for the salaries of chaplain, chancellor, bailiffs, and others, the total of which must amount to more than thirty thousand pesos; and there is nothing here with which to pay them.

In order to obviate the discomfort of the soldiers, who are quartered some in one place, some in another, among the inhabitants; and to prevent the quarrels into which they get with the people, I have built for them barracks of stone and brick which are now finished, and which will accommodate four hundred.  They are near the official buildings and a small fort which I have made, where they may keep their flags, and where they may be assembled aid at hand, and safe from the misfortune of fire, when there is need of such safety.