ire support of this land
depends on the coming and going of the ships; and if they are not
here by May or the middle of June, by delaying longer they run great
risk of being lost, and with them the welfare and support of this
land. Sailing from the port of Acapulco at the beginning of March,
they would arrive here in good time and without risk from storms. As
this is of so much importance, I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to
order your viceroy of Nueva Espana to exercise the utmost diligence
in the early despatch of the ships which are to come to this land,
in order that they may accomplish the purpose of the voyage.

On the first of July, arrived the master-of-camp, Pedro de Chaves,
who had gone to chastise the Indians of the province of Cagayan,
who as I have said before, were at war. Although he had gone out
with sixty soldiers and more than eight hundred friendly Indians, he
did nothing whatever except to cut down their palm-trees and destroy
their crops. He says that the Indians themselves burned their villages
and went to the mountains. It is known, however, that he left that
province in a worse state of war than before, and when the Indians
see our men turn back and leave them they regain courage.

We Spaniards are very few in number, and are surrounded by enemies
on every side. If we are not relieved in time by the despatch of
reenforcements, it will be impossible to apply a remedy when it
is wanted. As I have already said, we are but few, and the troops
die very quickly. When the Indians see an opportunity to crush us,
they are not likely to let it slip. I beseech your Majesty to be
pleased to order your viceroy that, when your governor sends to ask
troops and ammunition, or other necessaries, he should send them;
and also that he should send some money, because on account of the
many extraordinary occasions for expense which every day arise, your
royal treasury is usually much embarrassed and in debt. Sometimes,
for lack of money, important things are left undone.

On Sunday, the ninth of this month, I was in the cathedral, where
were gathered all the people and the orders, as there was to be a
solemn procession and sermon. The deacon came out to sprinkle the
holy water, and went directly to the choir and sprinkled it on the
bishop and all the persons who were in the choir. It is the custom
to give it first to the Audiencia. When the deacon came back from
the choir, your president and auditors told him