as was done, so that you might consider it a proper
expense. It was necessary and unavoidable, for
in any other way the bishop could not live three years—the
time during which we have to wait for a reply, if
we first had to advise your Majesty. The visitor,
Don Francisco de Rojas, has added this item, and formed
an opinion unfavorable to the auditors who gave their
votes to it, and has ordered that they make satisfaction
for it. His commission does not announce this;
accordingly, as a matter inferred from good government,
he has no right to inspect this affair. He has
also taken issue against the auditors of the last
Audiencia, who were the ones who assigned the one thousand
two hundred pesos during the other vacancy. Your
Majesty, by decrees received here this year, grants
concession to the archbishop-elect of a third part
of the salary which the dead archbishop would have
received. Your Majesty orders that another third
be given to the cathedral. In accordance with
this, there is much more justice and reason in giving
suitable maintenance to him who is serving the cathedral.
I petition your Majesty in all humility to be pleased
to confirm what was done with so great a desire of
serving you well—acts which were so thoroughly
grounded on justice and right. I assure you that
we desire to economize your royal revenues, and that
economy is the very thing which is necessary.
I have written to the visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas,
a document (a copy of which I enclose herewith) in
regard to the matter of the proceedings which he is
attempting to obtain from the treasury councils, after
having first consulted with the Audiencia in regard
to it. He replies as will also be seen by the
same copy. I have thought best to inform your
Majesty of everything, so that you may be advised
of the matter. What he appears to take as his
basis of action, and on which he places more stress,
according to what he has told me, is a section of
a decree of your Majesty sent to Don Alonso Fajardo,
dated Madrid, December 10, 1618, in which your Majesty
uses the following language:
“We have also learned that, through the opportunity
furnished by fulfilling an order which my officials
of my royal treasury of those islands had—that,
if a necessary and unavoidable case arose in which
some new expense would have to be incurred, the governor,
Audiencia, and the royal officials should assemble
and discuss it, and what should have the majority
of votes should be executed, giving me advice thereof—on
this account many expenses, salaries, and wages have
been incurred and increased without any necessity,
for the private ends of each one. Consequently,
I order you not to make these expenses, except in
sudden cases of invasion by enemies; for by doing
the contrary so much injury to my royal treasury results.”