the former comprise but the very least part of the citizens of this city, who in all number less than five hundred, not only did I find many who offered themselves and their servants to take part in your royal service on the past occasion when the enemy came here, but also they loaned me their slaves for the galleys, and one hundred and ninety-five thousand pesos.  With that I have met the expenses of this camp for most of this year and of the other troops whom your Majesty sustains in your pay.  I also built new or repaired the ships, both large and small, and galleys, and from them collected a fleet.  The enemy upon seeing that fleet in the port, although it was not completely ready, did not choose to await it, as above written to your Majesty—­not even for the profits to be derived from the ships that they were awaiting from China and Nueva Espana, which would have meant no little blessing to them and no little harm to us, if they had returned for it.  All that relief resulted from the aid of so good vassals, who, although paid from the money—­as were the Indian natives also, who have worked and given the supplies apportioned to them for the above purpose—­are even very deserving of reward from your Majesty, if you esteem their service.

In the above campaign, the most aid furnished me, by his person, followers, and servants, was from General Don Juan Ronquillo del Castillo.  By his intelligence, assiduity, and labor, I was able to make the preparations that I did; and I do not think that it could have been done without him so well, with so incredible rapidity.  Will your Majesty be pleased to have this considered in his behalf, on the occasions that arise for showing him honor and favor.  That favor that I petitioned your Majesty to show Admiral Rodrigo de Guilleztegui last year, will be very well extended, for the reasons then advanced.  Don Fernando Centeno Maldonado, who is serving in these galleys as commander of them, is a man who, by the honorable rank of his birth, has personal merits and good qualities—­so that your Majesty may make use of him in his profession as soldier, or in any other thing, even though it be a position of great labor.  He is the man for it, and one who will well use any honor that your Majesty may be pleased to bestow upon him.  Many judicial inquiries [informaciones] are made here of merits and services; and although there are some among them of men who have merits, and who have not obtained their reward because of a lack in means to give it to them, or in the failure of their said inquiry to obtain it, the majority consist of the inquiries of men who are or could be ashamed.  Of them what they claim might be advanced as a reason for their not deserving even what has been given them.  Although it is always to be believed that the auditors, to whom the inquiries are entrusted, ought to make them, not only as judges, but as interested parties, so that sinister inquiries should not be sent to your