I have a bit of vanity in it, which seems to
me not to be the most harmful vanity. I desire exceedingly that the
manner in which I manage this matter be known, for there is a great
difference in faithfulness, in good administration alone.

[_Marginal note_: "Council. You have already been informed in another
letter that God was pleased to let the reenforcement be lost because
of a bad storm. Nevertheless, all possible care is being taken to
prepare another. May our Lord be pleased to direct it, since it is
so important for the things of His service. By the despatches that
you will receive from the hand of the castellan Pedro de Heredia,
you will understand about the two hundred infantrymen, with which
your present need will be supplied, until the more important aid is
made ready. Inasmuch as you are advised of other things touching this
matter in the despatch of the said castellan, nothing more will be
told you of it, as I refer you to what it contains."]

6th. For this purpose, very acceptable aid has come to me with the
arrival of the factor, Diego de Castro Lison. For the favor that your
Majesty granted him in this--both to him and to me--I kiss your royal
feet with the humility and acknowledgment that is fitting.

It seems to me that with the commission borne by the above-mentioned,
it will be very well if, during his execution of it, he be relieved
somewhat of the many onerous duties of the office of factor; and for
that purpose I shall endeavor to give him the aid and leisure that
should appear necessary. If the treasurer--who has not yet arrived
and whom I do not know--is such as I believe and have proved the
factor to be, I shall have no need of carrying memoranda in my pocket
of what is paid into the royal treasury, as I have done sometimes,
even constraining this present treasurer so that he might ordain
that those warrants for whose despatch and payment he did not have
my decrees should not be honored. Consequently, I would not be sorry
to see here two or three men for the accountancy of this treasury and
for that of Terrenate; but, although the governors are accustomed to
make that appointment, I cannot find many to choose here.

[_Marginal note_: "It is well. With the arrival of the treasurer and
that of the treasury accountant, he is relieved of his anxiety about
the matter of accounts."]

7th. I have equalized the pay of the captains, officers, and soldiers
here and at Terrenate, by increasing that o