f the archbishop was,
that Vargas might choose between the punishment above described and
the following one (which is not to be talked about): He should erect
in the plaza, at his own expense, a scaffold or stage, and then give
notice that it was there; and the archbishop would go to absolve
him thereon. Vargas must go thither naked from the girdle upward,
wearing yellow hose, and carrying a green candle; and on the stage he
would be flogged. And in truth he deserved the lash, since, by not
sending to Espana, as the royal Audiencia decided, the two friars
who made war on him, he finds himself today in so great affliction,
which also occasions the royal authority to be insulted as never
before has been seen in all the [Spanish] realm.

At this same time poor Don Juan de Vargas finds himself in the fray
of his residencia. [128] For this investigation the governor named,
as associates of the judge, his Majesty's accountant, Captain Don Juan
del Pozo Gattica, and Sargento-mayor Lucas Mateo de Urquiza. The secret
inquiry ended a week ago, but they have not made known the findings
therein, which are said to be favorable. Only the Dominican fathers,
in whom he trusted for this emergency, have aided him by contributing
[a document of] fifty-three sections, regarding his entire life and
character--many of these concerning the Zambals of Playahonda, whom
he had assigned to the Dominicans; [129] and the first section goes
to show that he "lacked the chief qualifications of a knight"--the
way in which they speak of him. The city, through its attorney,
made fifty-six charges against him; and among these they demanded
from him damages for the losses that this community had suffered
from the return to port of the ship or galleon "Santa Rosa"--because
instead of ballast they placed in it wax, and for fifteen hundred
other articles that were included in the lading of the ship. As soon
as the secret inquiry was ended, Admiral Faura was arrested in the
fort, and Sargento-mayor Gallardo at the entrance of the bastion;
and all their goods were seized--but not much of their property was
found; if there had been, it would have showed that they were fools,
and certainly they are not of that sort. All agree that six hundred
thousand pesos would not suffice Don Juan de Vargas for what they
demand from him. [130]

In Camarines there are great controversies between the bishop and
the Franciscans, whose commissary, Fray Ysidro de la Madre de Dios