ships and merchandise by running aground. Inasmuch
as the governor will inform your Majesty more fully and minutely of
this event, the Audiencia will avoid doing so. We will only assure
your Majesty that not only was no preventive measure taken by the
said governor for which thanks should be given him, but also the
preconceived idea of those who are soldiers has been confirmed--namely,
that they considered him but little fit for so great matters, because
they had seen the way in which he proceeded in the preparation of the
fleet that he made ready, and with which he did not assail the enemy
last year, as well as in the despatch of the fleet that he made this
year to protect the Chinese ships. In the former matter, not only did
he equip the fleet so poorly, as above stated, but, leaving in Manila
the master-of-camp, the sargento-mayor, and captains of high standing,
he sent as commander his brother, Don Luis Fajardo, a lad fifteen
years old. He gave the latter (as it were, for his tutor) Admiral Juan
Baptista de Molina, who was then alcalde-in-ordinary of this city;
while Don Fernando Centeno, the fiscal's brother-in-law, remained
as commander of the galleys, to whom the rod of alcalde-in-ordinary
was given in the stead of Molina, who had served in that capacity
as citizen alcalde. Without receiving pay as such, and although his
galleys went on the expedition, he remained as alcalde _ad interim_.

In respect to the despatch of ships to Nueva Espana, although--on
account of those of the preceding two years that have been in his
charge having sailed late--the governor had published that this year
they would sail very early, they are now in Cavite. It is believed that
he will cause them to await his letters in Mindoro, which is thirty
leguas from Manila, all the month of August or but slightly less. Yet
it is certain that, without changing things from their usual course,
the ships could now be out of the channel. However, it appears that
all that may be a mistake, and that God is permitting it in order to
compel the inhabitants of these islands, after losing faith in human,
to turn to divine means.

In regard to greed for gain, no good rumor is current; and it is
said that of the loss therefrom no little share falls to the royal
treasury in paying orders that are bought at less than the fourth of
their face value. Consequently at the same time while not one real
of advance pay thereon is allowed to the owner of the order--