Sire:
The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal for his Majesty in
the royal Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands. The most important
reason why the said royal Audiencia is necessary is to redress the
wrongs which the governor and captain-general may commit. Although he
who is now in the office acts in a prudent manner, he may be succeeded
by another who will not do so, and, if this were the case, nothing
could be so suitable as that he who was governor and captain-general
should not be president; for if he is so, he will be present at the
hearings and meetings, in which case neither the auditors in decreeing,
nor the fiscal in petitioning, use the power which they hold. An easy
remedy for this would be that the archbishop of Manila should be the
president of the Audiencia, his salary being somewhat increased, and
that of the governor and captain-general decreased. He would be glad
to do this and would not neglect the affairs of his archbishopric,
which are not so pressing as to make it impossible for him to take
up the duties of the presidency. I might well cite some things which
I have seen, which appear to me to demonstrate the inconveniences
which might follow from all three offices being joined in one person,
but I prefer to pass them over. It is especially so as we are five
thousand leagues from your Majesty, and those of us who are imprudent
proceed under the impression that what we do here will not be known
there. It is evident that the presidency would be better filled by
the archbishop than by the governor; for when the latter is president
he has means, if he so desire, to keep the auditor from judging and
even the fiscal from petitioning, if they be lacking in courage. Your
Majesty will order this to be examined, and provide in regard to it
as may be most expedient. May God protect your Majesty according to
His power and the needs of Christendom. Manila, July 4, 1603.