been the cause of so great delay and so many
hardships!" [77] (Tomo iii, no. xxxix, pp. 91-225). Cebu, _circa_
1566. A petition to the king bearing signatures of Martin de Goiti,
Guido de Labezari, Andres Cauchela, Luis de la Haya, Gabriel de
Rribera, Juan Maldonado de Berrocal, Joan de la Isla, and Fernando
Rriquel, sets forth the following requests: 1. That ecclesiastics be
sent to Cebu, "for the preaching of the holy gospel and the conversion
of the natives," as only three of those first sent remain, namely,
Fray Diego, Fray Martin de Herrada, and Fray Pedro He Gamboa. 2. More
men, and arms and ammunition for five or six hundred men, so that if
the natives will not be converted otherwise, they may be compelled
to it by force of arms. 3. That due rewards be granted Legazpi for
his faithful service. 4. The confirmation and perpetuation of the
appointments made by the viceroy of New Spain, Luis de Velasco,
in the expedition of Legazpi. 5. That the king grant to all those
of the expedition and their descendants forever exemption from
_pecho_ [78] and custom duty, as well as exemption from tax on ail
merchandise that they might trade in these islands for the period
of one hundred years. 6. That transferable _repartimientos_ [79]
be granted to the conquerors and new discoverers. 7. That the wives
and children of the conquerors, whether in Spain or New Spain, be
sustained from the royal estate until the _repartimientos_ be made;
and that in case of the death of any of those of the expedition this
sustenance be continued. 8. That land be apportioned to them. 9. That
the conquerors alone, outside of the king, be allowed to trade in
the Philippines. 10. That the Moros, "because they try to prevent our
trade with the natives, and preach to them the religion of Mahomet,"
may be enslaved and lose their property. 11. That the offices of
the royal officials appointed by Velasco be granted for life, and
to one heir after them, and that they be allowed to share in the
_repartimientos_. 12. An increase of salary because of the high cost
of living in these islands. The petitioners beg further: 1. That
slave traffic be allowed, "that the Spaniards may make use of them,
as do the chiefs and natives of these regions, both in mines and other
works that offer themselves." 2. The remittance of the king's fifth
of all gold and silver found for fifty years. 3. That the natives
be distributed in _encomiendas_. Legazpi in a separate petition
ma