Since you see that, and have experienced it, as you say, it would be your own fault if you did not remedy that matter.  I leave it to you to do what is most fitting.  What occurs to us to advise you is, not to allow any religious to make charges or prove the innocence of any government official, unless it should be in some very special and particular case, in which his act may have occurred with the knowledge of such religious, and can be investigated in no other way.  You shall observe the same rule in official investigations, in which if the religious do not form a part of the court, certainty may thus be felt that affairs will proceed with sincerity and truth, as justice requires.  This that is told you, you shall impart to the Audiencia in your meeting.  You shall endeavor to have the same course followed in the case of the government agents and other persons who shall conduct similar investigations.  Inasmuch as the interpositions generally made by religious are usually effective, as well as the means by which they intimidate some and encourage others, you shall take measures, immediately upon receipt of this, to inform the superiors of those religious, so that they may be warned and advise their subordinates of it, so that they may not perplex themselves or meddle in any case of these secular judicial proceedings, or with claims of third parties.  For their occupation does not consist in this, but in the contemplative life, and in the exercise of the spiritual activities; and, moreover, the gravest disadvantages to the service of our Lord result from the contrary course.  You shall advise me of what you shall do and what you shall have put into execution, so that I may know what occurs.”]

10th.  I have had no other advices of anything new, or of matters of greater importance, in those forts [of Maluco] than the above-mentioned entrance of the reenforcements.  From the people sent thither, and from those who wrote me from Japon, I have learned that the reenforcement was very timely; for the Dutch had crews of Japanese, whom they hired with the intention, as was understood, of attempting with them some deed of arms in that place, or something else that would have meant evil to our forces and fortifications.

I was also advised from Japon that a squadron of Dutch ships was to sail thence to run along these coasts, in order to hinder the commerce of the Chinese ships, awaiting and robbing them on their way.  In order to obviate this mischief, I prepared two strong ships, one patache, and two galleys, with which to make the said coast safe.  I gave warning to China; and thus, in consequence, many ships and merchants of China, thanks to God, have arrived in safety.  That squadron is in charge of Admiral Joan Baptista de Molina, a man who has served many years, and who has served here with especial courage and good fortune.  And since every one in this country considers that he is the one who deserves most, and in order to avoid