The ambassador Don Luis de Navarrete, whom I sent to the Conbaco, arrived there safely with the present which he took with him.  The elephant was very well received, and they tell me that on the day when he entered Meaco (where the court of Japon resides), the concourse of people in the plaza was so great—­because they had never seen elephants before—­that seven persons were suffocated.  When the ambassador had ascended to the hall, the king came out to meet him with thirty kings who were his vassals.  My letter, a copy of which was sent to your Majesty last year, was then read in public.  It was well received, and the king said that he would reply thereto.  Then he wished to see the present which had been put in twelve boxes.  Greatly excited and enraged by a picture of myself, which represented me armed and with a cane in my hand, he asked in a loud voice whether this were intended as a threat.  He was answered in the negative, but that it was a custom of persons who held high offices to send their portraits as tokens of regard and friendship when embassies were despatched.  Thereupon he was appeased, and ordered the picture to be placed in a large hall, and directed his wives and children to go to see it.  After this the ambassador was invited to dine with him three times, and was finally dismissed with a present of twelve coats of mail, thirty lances, and two horses.  The despatch has not yet arrived, but I fear that the ambassador has died, for he was very ill at Nangasaque.  The information which I give your Majesty was gained from a letter of his. [20]

In compliance with your Majesty’s orders, and after investigating the embarrassments of the royal treasury, I have cashiered two companies commanded by two of my relatives, thereby saving expenses to the treasury of more than two thousand pesos a year; but if you consider it best for your Majesty’s service to extend the reduction somewhat, it shall be done.

Within this city I have made an impregnable refuge, which is bounded on one side by the sea and on another by the river; while on the land side one thousand armed men can, if sufficiently provisioned, defend it against one hundred thousand.  I am uneasy, however, because Nueva Espana neglects this important post.  The troops sent me from that country are useless, and the majority of them are unarmed.  The captains deprive the soldiers of their wages, and I have a hundred such complaints.  I have sent advices of everything to the Conde de Monterrey, [21] in order that he may correct this evil, for the reparation thereof belongs to him.  Your Majesty’s service will be furthered by giving orders to this effect.

I beseech your Majesty to order that, for the use of the troops of this camp, eight hundred arquebuses, four hundred muskets, and three hundred coats of mail be brought from Spain; for the troops are unarmed and your Majesty is put to much useless expense.  I should wish never to have been born if, on any occasion, this kingdom could not be defended for your Majesty, for lack of arms.