rom it, so that the expense which has been
already incurred in this may not, for any lack of these things, be
put to risk, and that the Holland rebels may not be allowed to get a
foothold and establish strongholds in that land; for the honor of the
state is imperiled, and very great loss to your Majesty's exchequer
is made possible through the hindrance of the trade in spices, if
they get it under their control. What should be still more thought of
and defended, since it is in greater danger, is the Catholic faith,
because the land is infested with heretics, and the Indians are a
very pliant and changeable people. Don Pedro should be informed of
what the marques has been commanded to do for his help, in order that
he may understand, and arrange and provide for everything as is best,
in order that the desired result may be obtained.

Dora Pedro writes also, in regard to the pay of the men who were sent
to him for that expedition, that it seems to him that what a soldier of
that military department gets--namely, six pesos a month--is little,
when the fact is considered that the country is incomparably more
dear than when the pay was fixed; and that the eight ducados which
the soldiers of the expedition earn are a great deal. He thinks,
therefore, that it would be well if both were paid at the rate of
eight pesos of eight reals a month, besides the customary thirty
ducados which are regularly given in addition to each company in Spain
and other regions; and that the captains should earn at the rate of
fifty pesos a month, and the sergeants ten, as they do now. As the
captains of that region get no more than thirty-five pesos, and those
of the expedition get sixty ducados, it seems best to him that these
salaries should be adjusted in the way that he states--giving to each
at the rate of eight pesos of eight reals a month, and the customary
thirty additional ducados a month which are usually given to each
company in Spain and elsewhere; and that the captains should receive
equally at the rate of fifty pesos a month, and the ensigns twenty,
and the sergeants ten, as he says they receive now. Thus all will
have pay that is equal and well adjusted, by taking away from some
and adding to others, in the way which Don Pedro has proposed. Your
Majesty will examine and consider all this, and will order what is
best for your service. In Madrid, August 5, 1606.

His Majesty orders that the enclosed report of the Council of War of
t