inexperienced in military affairs, is captain of one company.  Don Juan de la Vega, son of Auditor Vega, likewise a person of tender years, has another company.  Captain Madrid, brother of Auditor Madrid—­who has been in this country but one year, and before coming here was only a common soldier—­has a third company.  I do not mention many others—­alferezes and sergeants who are immature boys—­at whom all laugh, and who would better be in school than occupying such offices.  They are the ridicule and plaything of the soldiers; for the latter see in them no other valor or sufficiency than to be relatives of the auditors or fiscal.  The same is true of other honorable and advantageous posts.  Mateo de Heredia is alcalde-mayor of La Pampanga.  He is the son-in-law of Licentiate Almacan, and that office is the best appointment in this country.  To be chief guard of the parian of the Sangleys is a position that needs especially qualified persons, and those who have served his Majesty for many years.  For six or seven years it has been held by Diego Sanchez, a common person, who is married to a mestizo woman of Nueva Espana.  He has no greater merit therein than to be the brother-in-law of Auditor Alcaraz.  The same is true of other provisions.

4th. Item:  That if any person connected with any of the auditors commits a crime or crimes, such a one is not brought to justice for it, however grave and enormous his crime.  This very year a very grave case has happened in this city, in the person of a son of Auditor Vega, who committed adultery with a woman married to an inhabitant of this city, an honorable man, and of a good family.  The woman betook herself to a convent; and the adulterer fled.  The aggrieved man begged justice of the governor and the Audiencia.  The said Auditor Vega not only did not do his duty as judge, but defended his son with unfurled banners, to his own great infamy and censure as a person whom his Majesty maintains, to administer justice.  The preachers have denounced him in the pulpits, demanding that justice be done.  The people are exceedingly scandalized at so grave a matter remaining unpunished, only because the criminal is the son of an auditor.  Not only do they not punish him, but the said adulterer was even made captain of infantry in the war with the Dutch, to the great offense of all.  That appeared so unjust that a grave religious, who was going to the said war, said that he feared the wrath of God, and that the enemy would be victorious, because of so mischievous a man going on our side, who had offended God so deeply.  Yet he was not punished, for the sole reason of being the son of an auditor, and because his father defended him so earnestly.