hich your Majesty has commanded me, by one of
your royal decrees that, in order to stop the illegal transportation to
Nueva Espana of more merchandise than is permitted to the citizens,
the ships shall be built thus: the almiranta, of four hundred to
five hundred toneladas' burden; and the capitana, of five hundred
to six hundred toneladas. These decrees, Sire, have not come to my
hands thus far, further than a copy which the said royal visitor
sends me, issued in the term of Don Juan Nino de Tabora. This shall
be very punctually obeyed in the future construction of the ships;
but it is necessary to make the present voyage with the galleons
that are already built. I must remind your Majesty that the islands
are at the end of their resources, as far as the Indians in them are
concerned; for it is they who bring the timber from the forests for
the said shipbuilding. I have thought of an expedient for this, in
order not to complete the destruction of the Indians; it is, to ask
the viceroys of your Majesty in Nueva Espana and Piru to send vessels
here. Every two years, let the viceroy of Piru send to Nueva Espana a
ship with the permission which your Majesty has given, one of those
which the viceroy the Conde de Chinchon caused to be built in the
time when I served your Majesty there; they were of three hundred
to four hundred toneladas' burden, and carried twelve, fourteen,
or sixteen pieces of artillery. The cost of these will be paid here,
on the account of this royal treasury. With this, and with rebuilding
the galleons that are here, and repairing them every year, may be
remedied the loss in the shipyards, and the destruction and ruin of
the Indians. It is no light burden to maintain the laborers who cut
the timber for the repairs every year. Will your Majesty be pleased to
command the said viceroys to do what I have proposed; and thus in the
course of time the ships will come to be of the burden and lading that
your Majesty requires. Meanwhile, until the matter is arranged, the
galleons will go from here to Nueva Espana every two years, each with
two registers--one for the previous sailing, and one for the present
year--as they go now. In the year when they go, they will bring back
the half of the silver for the proceeds [from the merchandise sent];
and in the following year, when they do not have to go, the rest of the
money will be brought in the ship which will be sent from Piru. I hope
that your Majesty will approv