For the unburdening of my conscience I will, now that my presidency is over, tell your Majesty incidentally what I think of the officers of this Audiencia, whose inspection is awaited; and if, as is desirable, your Majesty send it, that will tell you better.  Don Alvaro de Lugo y Messa is an upright judge, and zealous in the service of your Majesty.  Geronimo de Legaspi does what his two sons wish, whom, on account of their reckless lives, the governors cannot employ, and thus are unable to satisfy their father, who is not contented except with favors.  Don Juan de Valderrama does as his wife says; and Don Matias Flores, although a young man, is less harmful; when he is so, it is owing to his passions or affections.  He makes all the profit he can from the office, and on the whole is not acceptable to the community, which is always disturbed by him.  I consider his office incompatible with that of protector; but, although your Majesty had issued a decree directing that this should not be, they annulled it.  I do not wish to annoy your Majesty any further, for there are persons who will write this from a sense of duty; and I refer, for information regarding my earnest desires for the service of your Majesty, to what all classes of people will write.  Since coming to serve you in these islands I have undergone so many expenses that I am poor and in debt as president.  I beg your Majesty to remember me by giving me the favor of the presidency of Panama, or the future succession to it [MS. holed] realm or governorship of Guatemala, whichever may first be vacant; for I have not property enough remaining to go and claim it in your court.

I likewise requested your Majesty last year not to allow my wife, since she is such, and cannot remain here as a private citizen, to lose the encomiendas which she inherited from her father and grandfather, who served so long in these islands; and that you would command a decree to be despatched so that she might enjoy them wherever you might choose that she and her daughter should live, as the latter is the last heir; and this I beg, for the reasons which I have mentioned to your Majesty.

At the proper time, I despatched to Sian a private ship, in order to avoid the cost of carrying the troops, goods, and supplies which remain there by the death of Don Fernando de Silva. [21] Everything went well.  I also sent a father of the Society, a man of great experience, to get under way the collection from all that comes from Yndia and other parts.  Don Juan Nino will inform your Majesty of it.  May our Lord protect your royal person according to the needs of Christendom.  Manila, July 30, 626.

Don Fernando de Silva

[On the back of this letter:  “The original descriptions of the island Hermosa and the relation concerning all those localities, are in the possession of Senor Don Andres de Rozas.”]

LETTER FROM THE SISTERS OF ST. CLARE TO FELIPE IV