This is the only remedy hoped for.  I have sent reenforcements of food, money, and other things, to the forts of Terrenate, with which, according to the advices received from that island, they are sufficiently provided until the regular time comes again to send them help, as it is the usual custom to do.  When that time expires, which now is just the opposite of this voyage [i.e. to Nueva Espana], I shall try, with God’s help, to send, together with the ordinary help, two companies of infantry, with some other soldiers of those who have come this year from Nueva Espana.  If I can increase it to a greater number, I shall do so, by changing some of the soldiers who have been there so many years, and leaving those that shall be necessary for the defense of those forts.  I shall also try to send two galleys, as galleys are more important among those islands than among any other parts of the islands of this region.  I would already have sent those soldiers, if the season had not hindered, after the Dutch had left here; and until then it was impossible to divide the forces which were being collected to oppose them.

I have had many loud complaints from the forts of Terrenate, written by religious and laymen, of the governor there, Lucas de Bergara Gaviria—­not only of his asperity and harsh government, but of his lack of balance in other things.  Since these complaints were so numerous, I was obliged to get the opinion and resolution of the members of this royal Audiencia; but at the same time came letters from Lucas de Bergara Gaviria, asking permission to resign his post.  Consequently I was forced to seek some one to go there.  After nominating for that post the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silba, as one to whom your Majesty had entrusted that government, he excused himself from going there, with arguments that he advanced for it.  Accordingly the master-of-camp, Don Luis de Bracamonte, was appointed in his stead.  Although I consider the latter a man of so good qualities, that I know of no one here who is better than he, still—­both because he goes with little desire to stay there (as he shows), and because the choice of the one who must go to those islands will be very much better if made by your Majesty’s Council—­I beg you to be pleased to have the choice made, and to order that the person appointed for it go immediately to discharge his duties.

I do not altogether believe what is said and written about Lucas de Bergara Gaviria, as this is a country where accusation is practiced considerably, and even the giving of false testimonies; and in this way some men make themselves feared.  Such men have even obtained in that way what they have not merited by other and lawful means.  And notwithstanding that in the long time that elapses before the truth is established, the rival suffers, there is no one who will not [finally] bear the stigma [of his wrongdoing], and especially if any religious are dissatisfied.  In such cases, there is nothing to do but keep patient,