did was to capture that junk and bring it to Manila, in which he is so far from having incurred displeasure, that on the contrary, by that action alone, he merited the place of admiral which is given him; for, besides having attained what was ordered him, he conducted himself so honestly in the capture of the vessel that neither for himself nor for others did he allow anything of importance to be taken—­putting aboard it a trustworthy commander with ten soldiers, who brought the junk as it was to Manila, without wasting any of the merchandise.  Thus did he obey the order given him that there should be no sack, but that he should bring it as he had found it, with all fidelity; since it was not taken as an absolute prize, but by way of reprisal, as I have written in another letter.  In regard to the said Diego Lopez Lobo not being a Castilian citizen but a Portuguese (which has been the rock of offense to auditors and citizens, and the motive which has induced the city to complain to your Majesty), I am not aware that it is a crime or a demerit to be a Portuguese.  Diego Lopez is a son of the second Lopez Lobo, a nobleman, of the rank that can be easily ascertained in that Council.  He went to East Yndia in the service of your Majesty, where he lived for ten years.  Thence he came to these islands, where I found him serving worthily with a company of infantry, which had been given him by Don Fernando de Silva during the year while he governed, here.  During all that year and the four of my government, he has had his house, and dwelling in Manila, which seems to be sufficient for him to call himself a citizen.  Opportunity lately offered to send him to that court to discuss the union of the posts and arms of the South Sea, about which I am writing in a separate letter.  As he is a man who had been under both crowns of Portugal and Castilla, and because of his rank and good qualities I thought there was no other to whom I could better trust a matter of so great moment.  Imagining that, as it was a service, for your Majesty, the city would consider it favorably, I gave him charge of that matter.  But since there is no other aim than self-interest, there are few who yield their own advantage for the common welfare and the service of your Majesty.  Eight or nine citizens—­all encomenderos, the least of whom has four hundred and fifty-six tributes—­without their having killed many Moros, [a service] for which they ought to claim a post for Castilla, presented a petition to the city, signed by their names, by which they asked the city to oppose the said choice.  The city accepted the petition, and sent it to me at my council, with a number of the decrees of your Majesty, which discuss the matter of appointment to the posts of commander and admiral—­as if I had not seen them, or looked to see whether the person of Diego Lopez had place among them.  The post of commander was granted to a citizen, the most honored of the most honored in this city.  The post of admiral for the return voyage (which is an