nothing satisfies them; and they spend all their time envying what is given to others, and crying down their services and merits, and complaining of the government, by murmuring openly against him who has it in charge, and accusing him with innumerable testimonials.  Some of the inferior officials among those whom your Majesty has in the Yndias do not avoid doing this.  Such men desire that their posts be extended in authority and profit—­in authority not for the honor, for one does not concern himself about that in the Yndias; but for the profit, which forms their desire and fixed purpose.  For if, perchance, there is a servant, relative, or follower to whom is not given all that such an official wishes, and whenever he wishes, and as quickly as he wishes, the friendship is immediately broken, and the royal service pays for it, for such a minister no longer is inclined to it, and only tries to cause it trouble, and to work against whatever the governor proposes.

Efforts which have been made to quiet complaints

13.  Knowing this by the experience of four years of government, I have taken all possible measures to regulate as well as possible these malcontents; but since the limits of my duty to God and to your Majesty cannot be overstepped, however much I have desired and tried to please them, I have learned that I am very backward, and that they are accusing me by innumerable testimonials.  I petition your Majesty to rest assured that I am serving you with great devotion and with the desire of succeeding in what I owe to my birth.  The royal revenues are spent with great circumspection, as will be seen by the accounts sent this year to that royal Council.  Military affairs are undertaken after full counsel.  My presence in the government is continuous.  The community is quiet.  The soldiers are in the best state of discipline that can be had.  The ships are despatched at the monsoons.  The provinces are reenforced at the proper time.  The cloth traded is procured with the help of the neighboring kings, and of all your agents; and your Majesty keeps them occupied both in Yndia and in this archipelago.  The Indians are less oppressed than ever, and, as I have written in other years, a great number of burdens have been taken from them.  No Spaniard is found who has been ill-treated by words.  What there has been to allot has been among many, and all are supported therewith, although discontented.  The city has been fortified and beautified.  Finally, I assert that I shall not secure from the Philipinas by the end of eight years, if God give me that long life, and your Majesty preserve me in the islands, the dowry which Dona Madalena brought, although I live (as is a fact) so moderately.  Granting this, I do not know what more remains or ought to be done.

Permission asked by the governor to leave the Philipinas