ave refused
to obey them. On the contrary, officers have been publicly insulted
and stabbed; and this has occurred not once but many times. This
boldness has increased to such an extent that it is displayed on the
slightest occasion. On this account we cannot maintain sentinel duty,
or the necessary precautions, because we, the master-of-camp and the
captains, cannot punish them as formerly. The soldiers no longer have
for us the fear and respect that they once had, which has caused in
these islands the complete loss of that military discipline which was
formerly so strict. This has been shown repeatedly, so that the natives
indulge in all sorts of daring, holding us in very slight estimation,
as they did last year in Panpanga, five leagues from this city. They
placed at their head two chiefs, who in two days' time had a large
following, well armed and supplied, who could disturb the whole land
with the insolence and the effrontery that they displayed. Because they
said that they were coming to destroy this city, it was necessary for
myself and some captains, and all the good soldiers to be found here,
to go out to prepare for them. This was done and the president sent
your Majesty a detailed account thereof on the ship which sailed from
here at that time.

Feeling that this was right, and due to your Majesty's service, I held
a council of the captains; and I set before them these difficulties,
and others that might result from the complete ruin of the military
service. Unanimously we all petitioned "that this royal Audiencia
here shall be freely allowed to have charge of war affairs in general
because in this way we could act as a unit, as we did before. We
should strive to reduce the evil condition which obtains at present to
that good order which we are wont to have, because what has taken so
many years to acquire should not be lost in one hour." The result was
that a suit was instituted against us on the ground that the petition
which we presented was disrespectful, and that we were rebellious. We
were imprisoned for a long time and condemned to an excessive fine,
where we had expected to be rewarded for our ardent zeal and desire to
please your Majesty, which we have always had. We send your Majesty
a copy of the proceedings, notwithstanding that it is to terminate
in the court of appeals, so that your Majesty may see how, without
any fault of ours, we who have served your Majesty here during so
many years, and wi