pertain to the excesses that you mention in the preparations in Nueva
Espana have been written to the viceroy, as per the enclosed copy,
so that redress may be provided in what is so just."] [Here follows
a note, on a separate piece of paper. [22]]

3d. And inasmuch as I am not confident that the viceroy will be
willing to admit that the appointments of offices and officials of
these ships from these islands do not concern him, when those who are
appointed complete the exercise of their duties on their arrival at
Nueva Espana--as, for instance, Don Francisco de la Serna, who is
going this year as commander; and Don Luis Fernandez de Cordova,
who was commander last year, as they commenced to exercise those
offices from the time of their departure from those provinces and
are returning in those functions through courtesy, and for just
considerations--the viceroy undertakes to appoint men to those places,
refusing to understand as he ought what your Majesty has ruled and
ordered in this matter. On the contrary, in order to establish himself
in this pretension, he has suppressed the appointments that I sent
last year. Indeed, although he deprived Don Fernando de Ayala of his
appointment, he did not make another appointment, but said that he
was satisfied for that time with that act of jurisdiction. He said
that he would send me another as commander of the ships--a young man,
like those whom he sends as captains of infantry. That would have
resulted in the disinclination of people in this country to send what
is of so much importance [_i.e._, their cargoes to Nueva Espana],
with the supplies and artillery which I sent--very differently from
the usual practice, in charge of a man of action and valor, who
has fought very often. I cannot see why the viceroy should wonder
at a thoroughly satisfactory person being appointed and sent from
here, in order to return in such a post, since for a matter of so
great consideration, value, and importance, it does not seem much
or hurtful that each ship should always have a captain, like those
whom your Majesty appoints in the flagships and almirantas of the
trading-fleets, with the same preeminences and the right of succession
to the responsibility and management of them, in case of the death or
absence of their commanders. For it would be a misfortune, in case of
their absence, for the relief or the ruin of these islands to depend,
on the occasion of a fight or other emergency in which th