advised that
what they ought to do in this matter to another president than to me,
be not lacking to me. In other things, I shall manage with the fitting
mildness and delicacy, so that we all may proceed very conformably to
the service of your Majesty. I hope for this, for on my part there is
the desire and on theirs so many obligations. Very soon they will make
a trial of the obligations that they have in their offices. In order
not to neglect the fulfilment of my obligations and the discharge
of my conscience, I assure your Majesty that I do not consider it
advisable for your royal service that the present order be executed,
ruling that he who shall be senior auditor shall exercise the office
of captain-general because of the death of the governor; but [I
recommend] that, in case your Majesty should have appointed no person
for that purpose, the whole Audiencia, together with the archbishop,
shall appoint him, and the appointee shall remain subordinate to the
Audiencia, as are other captains-general, in the royal council of war:
Thus may be avoided the existence of two heads, which occurs with the
division of the departments of war and peace of the government, and
the great inconveniences that usually result from it. And according
to what I, as a Christian, believe, the inconveniences that could
be feared, were Licentiate Geronimo de Legazpi to take this office
(who in the event of the absence of Licentiate Andres de Alcaraz will
be senior auditor), would not be few; for as yet he is a person who
has not exhibited the capacity and qualities required for it. On the
contrary a certain incontinence has been noted in his morals. With
the scandal and bad example of that and certain inclinations in the
administration of justice, and complaints from persons to whom he
has failed to return money which he received from them to invest in
merchandise or to pay to them here, he has become as disreputable
as in other matters of his own private affairs. Since he allows one
of his sons, the eldest one here, called Don Atanasio de Legazpi,
to live so licentious a life, it is said of him that his father is
making amends for the fault of his son's bad rearing. He endures from
his son much disrespect, even fearing him and following his will in
unjust things. Hence it can be inferred that he who cannot govern
his own son will illy govern so many others. Further, with such a
counterpoise, and since this matter is so worthy of consideration