twelve, six hundred and twelve, that the issue of the said licenses (which are given to the Sangleys who remain annually in this city and these islands for their service) was annexed to and pertained to the said governmental office, in accordance with its title; and he ordered that then and thenceforth the issues of these licenses should be made in the said governmental office.  In conformity with that order, Secretary Gaspar Alvarez (uncle of the said Pedro Alvarez, by whose resignation the latter succeeded to those offices) countersigned the said licenses from thenceforth until the year six hundred and eighteen, the first year of the administration of Don Alonso Fajardo.  The latter began to take the licenses away from the said office last year, six hundred and nineteen, when the said Pedro Alvarez began to exercise it.  In regard to his right to the conduct of other business, despatched by the corresponding secretary, the most authentic thing that we can now report is that the grudge held by the governor against the said Pedro Alvarez is well known, for he shows it on every occasion.

He allows no testimonies to be given to the parties [in suits] in any case that does not suit him, even though the Audiencia order it.  Neither does he permit the causes to be prosecuted, for he takes and keeps them in his possession as long as he chooses.  And inasmuch as the relation of all that occurs after this manner would mean that it would never end, we avoid it—­likewise considering that from the above statements, and from his often having said publicly that it would be best not to have auditors or friars (of whom he talks scandalously) in the Philipinas, the rest can be inferred.

In respect to military affairs, in addition to what the Audiencia formerly wrote to your Majesty:  after our fear here that a number of Dutch ships would descend from Japon—­as we were advised from that kingdom—­to await the Chinese ships along our coasts, a fleet was prepared to go out to attack them.  After very considerable sums had been spent on it, it was despatched at the beginning of March, consisting of two galleons, one patache, and one galley—­so ill-prepared that the almiranta galleon began to sink in the port.  A few days after it had left this bay, it returned to port, because the pumps could not lessen the water, at great risk of the vessel’s foundering.  Thereupon the effort was made to prepare another ship to supply its lack; but so great unreadiness was found everywhere that that was impossible.  In its stead sailed the other galley that had been left behind.  Finally, as they did not meet the enemy, the loss was less regretted.  The fleet returned to port.  Although, because of a second warning received from Xapon that two Dutch ships and one patache were surely coming to our coasts, it was considered by many to be advisable that the fleet should go to El Embocadero to secure the safety of the ships from Nueva Espana, that was not done; but on the contrary the ships were