There are many persons in these islands who have toiled in the service of your Majesty, and your Majesty would direct his favor well if he extended it, among others, to Doctor Antonio de Morga, auditor of this royal Audiencia, who is a man of good parts and fitted for any matter pertaining to the service of your Majesty.  Likewise the licentiate Don Antonio de Ribera, auditor of this royal Audiencia, has done a great deal in saving a galleon in which was carried the entire wealth and support of this country.  Captain Hernando de Avila, treasurer of the royal exchequer of your Majesty, is filling that office as a faithful servant.  Captain Christoval Ascueta Menchaca has served many years and is worthy of reward.

[In the margin:  “On the memorandum of the exchequer.”]

Throughout our entire order, especial care is taken in all matters respecting your Majesty, and we shall still continue this, beseeching our Lord to protect your Majesty many years for us, as He may see is fitting for the welfare of His church and of the kingdoms of your Majesty.  Manila, July 8, 1601.

Diego Garcia, visitor of the Society of Jesus.

Letter from the Fiscal to Felipe III

Sire: 

I, the licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for your Majesty in the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of the Philipinas Islands, say that, as it has been heard in the islands that your Majesty has done them the favor of appointing Don Pedro de Acuna as governor and captain-general, and president of the royal Audiencia, this has greatly pleased and satisfied them, on account of the good reputation which he has of being an excellent soldier, and not at all self-seeking.  Therefore his arrival is desired, because it is very necessary for all and [illegible in MS.] for the matters of war, in which many mistakes have been made up to the present time—­which I will not mention, however, since the remedy is so soon expected with the arrival of Don Pedro de Acuna.  If this had occurred a year ago, it is certain that a great misfortune would have been avoided which these islands suffered, and which was as follows.

On the sixteenth of October of the year 1600 just past, there entered the little bay of Aluay, which is in these islands, near the entrance to them, two vessels, which, from some people who went on board of them, were found to belong to strangers.  After having robbed some vessels they came toward the port of Cavite, which is two leguas from this city, and is the place where vessels anchor.  It was decided that some ships should be fitted out in the aforesaid port—­namely, a ship built in the island of Cebu, called the “Sant Diego,” which belonged to some private persons; a galicabra called the “Sant Bartolome,” which belongs to your Majesty; a galley of twenty benches, also belonging to your Majesty; and a pataje belonging to some Portuguese from Malaca, who were in the port. [47]