LETTER FROM ALONSO FAJARDO DE TENZA TO FELIPE III

Sire: 

In the vessels that I despatched from this bay to Nueva Espana last year on the tenth of August, I informed your Majesty of my voyage and arrival, and of the condition in which I found this country.  By way of Portuguese Yndia I did the same in December of the said year, adding then what was new.  What news I can now give is that, thanks to God, the said ships reached here on the return voyage on the third of this month, after a long trip of three and one-half months—­and on the outward trip, the smaller ship spent less than four months, and the larger seven days more [than four months].  They have been among the most fortunate ships seen here.  Glory be to His Divine Majesty for everything.  These ships have brought two companies with one hundred and twenty-four volunteer soldiers together, thirty-four sentenced by justice to serve in these districts, thirty-two convicts for the galleys, three hundred and seventy-eight thousand five hundred and eighty-six eight-real pesos, in reals and in bars of silver, also arms, military stores, and other necessary supplies for the use of these strongholds and warehouses.  Although the troops and money do not equal what was asked from here—­nor what is extremely necessary, because of the very stringent need here of both men and money—­according to what I have heard of the difficulty in collecting this aid, and the labor that it cost the viceroy of those provinces to expedite and send it, he is greatly to be praised for it.  I am under obligations to him; but I find myself also obliged to entreat your Majesty to have him urged in vigorous terms, saying that you consider yourself served thereby, and to order him to continue it, doing the utmost possible in the reenforcements asked from here.  He should also be asked to furnish those reenforcements in the same manner, in those years when ships do not reach Acapulco from these islands because of having to put back into port in distress, or from any other forced cause that prevents their voyage; for it is certain that even if no ship arrive there, the despatch [from Nueva Espana] should not be discontinued, because of its vast importance for the welfare of this community, and in order to bring provisions and reenforcements, as is usual and necessary.  However much the viceroy be urged on, this country will not have what it needs, until your Majesty be pleased to have sent here the reenforcement of the fleet that was promised—­adding to the men and ordering it to be provided with sufficient money for their sustenance and the execution of what must be done with the fleet.  I trust in our Lord that, if it reach here safely, it will give us very good results.  I offer on my part to procure those good results with its aid, as far as possible.  I shall not again mention in detail the reasons existing as to why your Majesty should send us this aid, as