Nothing has placed the states of Flandes and those wars in greater stress than the mutinies.  Your Majesty has a large body of infantry in these islands; and although it is in the Yndias, where it seems to those in Espana that everything is in superabundance, that is a delusion; for the soldiers experience much misery and hardships, and see only a scanty relief, and every year a large amount of pay remains still due to them.  All the remote presidios suffer, and in Terrenate the soldiers desert to the enemy.  I humbly entreat your Majesty to consider these reasons, and have the viceroys of Nueva Espana strictly ordered to send us what is asked from them.  For in no other way will they succor these islands, as is advisable; nor do they, in other things, provide anyone to whom can be entrusted the assaying [of metals].  Some persons have done this, but have not had the certainty that was desired.  I trust in God that He will help me to attain some success.  I shall not desist from the effort—­and that, be it understood, without expense to your Majesty.  I have some ores in my house again, which I am assaying—­mainly because I have no one who understands it thoroughly—­although I am proceeding almost blindly. [In the margin:  “Seen.”]

After having written this, news came of the arrival of the ships of this year, and a report of the succor that is sent in it, namely, 250,000 pesos in reals.  The treasury now owes 150,000 pesos to the citizens for loans, and for food which has been taken from the natives on credit, for the expenses of this year.  We cannot neglect to pay any part of that sum as soon as the ships reach port, in order not to lose credit with the inhabitants and natives, who are the ones who support us most.  Taking then 150,000 pesos from the 250,000 that come, only 100,000 remain to be deposited in the treasury for the expenses of this year.  Last year, when the succor arrived there was nothing owing for loans or food.  In the matter of expenses I have been so moderate that I have not paid the salaries of the government employees, nor the debts of any of the back years.  I have kept the infantry on ships for the space of eight months, in order to save the succor and actual cash that would have to be given them if they were ashore.  Yet at the end of the year the treasury has been found pledged to the extent of the said 150,000 pesos.  Since at least 80,000 pesos in reals are to be expended from the treasury this year in relief expeditions, and since we can not fail to have the expenses of last year, I find that in the coming July of 629, when the ships which I am now despatching arrive (if God be pleased to bring them back safely), we will owe 250,000 pesos in loans and food.  That will be all the succor that I can count upon as being ordered to be sent me.  Neither of those can I get here in this country, for the loan is a grievous burden on the inhabitants.  My rigor cannot be greater than that of the present year.  And, even did I secure these supplies, we shall be ruined none the less on that account in the following year, since at the time of the arrival of the succor, we shall be owing it all. [In the margin:  “Seen.”]