I have found here an invention of the Sangleys for founding artillery.  It is easy of accomplishment, and as there is much metal in the royal warehouses I am having fifty pieces of artillery made, which will take a ball of one to three libras’ weight, the size most needed here.  After these are finished, I shall not fail to go to China to attack the Sangleys.  May our Lord preserve the royal Catholic person of your Majesty as is needed by these kingdoms, and as we your vassals desire.  Manila, June 17, 1598.

Don Francisco Tello

Sire: 

Your Majesty’s royal instructions despatched in the year ninety-six were received in the month of May of the year ninety-eight.  Your Majesty’s commands will be fulfilled with all punctuality, in each and every respect; and the viceroy of Nueva Espana will be advised of what concerns him, in order that he may also observe your Majesty’s commands.  It is best for the service of your Majesty that the viceroy should punctually send the reenforcements supplied to this kingdom, and carefully attend to all other things pertaining thereto.  I am very sorry to see the manner in which your Majesty’s revenues are being wasted, and with so small a result; for the troops are in a wretched condition and without arms, and the captains try rather to rob them of their money than to secure good and serviceable troops.  They are striving to deprive this last contingent, who are poor and unprotected, of the greater part of their pay.  Owing to a misunderstanding, the viceroy also does something unsuitable to your Majesty’s service—­namely, he sends freight on certain ships which are despatched to these regions by private persons.  To avoid expense to the royal exchequer, he makes entry thereof, and gives them license to carry a large sum of money. [22] From investing this they secure four times its value in goods; and all this wealth they use, and lade on their ships, and they take away the cream of the trade from those who were born in this country.  As a result, this land is poor, harassed, and wretched; and the Peruvians and Mexicans are rich and powerful, for it is they who are engaged in this traffic.  By the methods above described, there can be no obstacle which prevents them from receiving the highest profits.  Your Majesty will command orders to be given in this matter as is most beneficial.

The troops of this land, old and deserving soldiers, are in great need, for the encomiendas are in rebellion, and they cannot be pacified in many years.  They are very poor, and beset with afflictions; and it grieves me to be unable to assist them.  Although I have supplied several with temporary positions, I have been careful not to give them to any follower or relative of mine.  There are many who are unfortunate, and the thousand pesos which your Majesty was pleased to command to be granted every year, with the condition that the additional pay given from it should not exceed ten pesos annually, is not used for that purpose.