nd his father received.

[_Marginal note_: "It is well. In everything that pertains to you,
account of your person shall be taken, as well as just remembrance
of the services of your father."]

32d. In one of the letters and decrees of your Majesty, to which I am
replying, was a memorial signed by Joan Ruis de Contreras, concerning
posts, pay, and other things which were represented to your Majesty
as unnecessary. Because of it you ordered it to be sent to me for
the restriction of those things. I shall endeavor to observe it
with the circumspection and consideration that is advisable to the
service of your Majesty, consulting on the matter with the Audiencia,
the master-of-camp, and the royal officials. Whatever expense they
shall find that can be reduced will be reduced. If I believed that
it could be done throughout without any disadvantage, it would all
be done. But for greater justification I shall make this effort;
and if your Majesty shall yet order, notwithstanding what seems
best here, that it is more advisable to retrench everything, that
will accordingly be done. Security will at least be given for the
salaries that are not reduced, by the persons who should enjoy them,
so that they would be returned if your Majesty did not consider it
fitting; or if not, I shall pay them, although I should not do so
willingly. Inasmuch as the salaries of those of all the posts and
offices were not stated in the memorial I shall do so here.

The sargento-mayor of this camp and city of Manila receives forty
ducados of ten reals each per month.

There are three adjutants, two of whom receive pay of twenty-four
ducados per month; while the other serves in the ordinary post of
soldier, waiting until one of the two paid offices becomes vacant,
and on account of meriting more. All are necessary.

The captain of the guard receives twenty-four ducados of ten reals
per month.

The companies have their two drummers and the ordinary additional
pay but not all of them.

The reduction will include the companies that lately came new,
as that is more proper, in order not to cause the old colors to be
disbanded. But they will not be greatly restricted, if the captains
and officers with their staff have brought a year's advance pay from
Nueva Spana.

The castellan of Manila enjoys eight hundred pesos per year, or
fifty-three ducados of ten reals, and three and one-third reals per
month. If he has an encomienda, in addition to this