own private reasons.  He was ordered to return the man to his place, and to have him serve as before.  The accountant alleged with too unmeasured language that he and his associates had the authority to dismiss the clerks, since they were the ones who proposed them.  I was advised that it would be better government, in order to avoid the consequences, for the royal officials not to propose the clerks whom they had to employ in their offices, except in the memorial of the person who enters it, petitioning that they give information of his competency.  Accordingly, I so provided; and therefore, so long as the clerks give satisfaction, it must not be understood that the royal officials can dismiss them without having information of demerits understood by the government—­which is the agency to dismiss such men, as it was the one to hire them. [In the margin:  “Ascertain what the royal officials write; and, if they have not written, let them report.”  “Search was made, and all the papers on the matter collected, together with those sections and letters which the royal officials have written.”]

[Sixth point of this letter]

The accountant has also claimed the right to collect certain fees which this royal Audiencia assigned some years ago, by a sentence of examination and review, as a tariff to the clerks of the accountancy, the factor’s office, and the treasury.  The accountant lately renewed the suit, and declared in this Audiencia the one which I have resolved to send to your royal Council with the evidence.  The matter is one of moment, for the clerks who serve carry the weight of the work of the accountancy; and as they cannot be maintained with the fees of the tariff, they charge additional fees, which parties give them in order to facilitate their business.  Nor is it possible for the governors to avoid that; for it is a matter of importance to the parties themselves to conceal it, for the sake of their business.  If the accountant tries to take those fees from them, the clerks will have a much greater reason to accept bribes; else they will not expedite the business, or reduce the great volume of accounts and business that are pending in this accountancy.  Even the commencement of this suit has caused great trouble, and the clerks have been much disturbed by it.  Will your Majesty be pleased to order the suit to be concluded, and the decision that is most expedient to be made. [In the margin:  “Look up the papers regarding this matter; let it be as the fiscal says.”  “These sections were collected with the papers which treat of this matter.”]

What is to be said is that the accountant and treasurer are very poor; and that the offices in the Yndias are not worth anything unless one steals, and they do not do that.  The expenses of their households and families have been excessive in this city for some little time past, and consequently, those ministers cannot live decently on their pay.  If there is any means to increase it, will your Majesty order that inquiry be made in what way this can be done without the royal officials taking away the perquisites from their clerks.  May God preserve the Catholic royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom.  Cavite, August first, 1629.  Sire, your Majesty’s humble vassal,