advantageous post) was given to another citizen, also married in this city, and one of its worthy men.  Only the outward trip has been granted to Diego Lopez, so that he may come before the eyes of your Majesty more fittingly, since the advantage is not more than one-half the pay and accommodation of his own post.  Eight or nine citizens who enjoy good incomes (one of them has two or three thousand pesos), without being better knights or soldiers than Diego Lopez, complain.  It was all contrived by one or two uneasy spirits, simply to make merits, from vengeance at not having succeeded in obtaining the office of stewardship of the city, and who claimed to negotiate for a certain person who was not suitable.  Here whatever differs from and opposes the governor is done with a sinister intention, and not through zeal for the public welfare.  The gist of the petition is enclosed herewith, in case that the city shall forget to send it.  I petition your Majesty to grant me the favor to have it examined; and that in consideration of the criticism which they attempt to make in it on the loyalty and fidelity of the Portuguese nation, and of the authority which they are attempting to take in what they say, that they did not willingly oppose the appointment of the captain of infantry, your Majesty will order that the admonition and punishment which their boldness deserves be given to them.  I have not as yet done that, in order to avoid greater disturbances at a time when we are trying to effect a union of Portuguese and Castilian posts and arms in this South Sea.  That union is the only means by which to drive the enemy from that sea.  At a time when many Castilian soldiers have come to Yndia, and when there are more than two hundred Portuguese soldiers, alferezes, and captains in the forts of Maluco and Manila, these men [whom I have mentioned] are ill satisfied, and are sowing schisms among them all.  Will your Majesty have this examined, and furnish the relief that it requires.  And if there be discussion of the matter of pleasing the auditors in what they petition—­namely, that the appointments to these posts be conferred upon them—­it will be better for your Majesty to order that the posts be given to their sons and brothers, who are the persons for whom they desire them, although those men do not have the merits that are requisite for such places.  If they had the merits, it would not be necessary for such men to try to get them.

Origin of the above complaints and others like them

12.  It is a foregone conclusion, Sire, in the Yndias more than in other regions, that he who shall govern uprightly will have many rivals; for those who generally come hither come with the desire to hoard up riches.  That is the cause which draws them from their native place; but, as wealth is not obtained sometimes as quickly as they would wish, they become resentful.  As it is quite natural for mean people to attribute more to themselves than they deserve,