Sire:
Immediately upon my arrival last year, I wrote your Majesty what
I observed in the disposition of the licentiate Pedro de Rrojas,
my counselor--in the little while in which I could study him--that
he was very fond of his own opinion, and of meddling with what did
not concern him. This resulted from his office, since he wished to
reduce everything pertaining to war and administration to justice. I
also stated that he considered his commission and mine as identical,
with no distinction between them; and that I thought him moved by
and wedded to his opinion. Now that by intercourse with him, I know
him better, I am able, in accordance with what I owe your Majesty's
service, again to _[break in the original MS_.] he is indeed so sure
and certain of his opinion that it appears to him that with four
courses at Salamanca [_[break in MS_.] other letters or judicature
but his; and that he knows everything, and others nothing. Regarding
this, he uses very free and disrespectful language, shutting himself
up in his resolution, from which there is no drawing him. And hence
there happened to me one day with him what your Majesty will see
by the enclosed investigation, [34] which I send, only that your
Majesty may know what passed, and the liberty with which he talks
and acts. It is not a new thing, since he antagonized and quarreled
with President Sanctiago de Vera, as is evident by the investigation
I send thereof; he certainly has very little fondness for peace, and
is inclined to disputes and arguments. As the royal Audiencia was here
so haughty and domineering, he retains that authority and harshness,
with which he tries to reduce all others as his vassals. In the
matters of justice that he discusses, he is unable to be impartial,
but is in many matters very biased. This is because of his trading
and trafficking, which the president and all the auditors carried
on from the time of their arrival--and with so great avidity, trying
to secure it all to themselves, that I find no rich men here beside
them. This is the reason why Rojas (as I inform your Majesty in a
separate letter) and the auditors opposed the pancada, [35] in order
that the consignments of money sent by them to China for merchandise
might not be known--which, at last, have come to light. Moreover,
as they were unwilling to pay, on the present shipment to España,
the two per cent that I levied as a tax for the wall, they opposed it;
and they stirred up on both questions the bishop and friars. I inform
your Majesty of these things in another letter, and of the manner in
which I have cleared up all doubts regarding them, and ascertained
the investments of the present year, as appears by the accompanying
paper. If the matter of inspection and the residencia held here had
fallen to my order and commission, as it fell to that of the viceroy
of Nueva España, I would have proved to your Majesty the investments of
past years. I wish to say but two things, pertaining to your Majesty's
service, and which I ought to say. One is that the licentiate Rrojas,
in this country, where he is so busied with these means of gain,
is so puffed up with the authority and name of auditor, and with his
other abilities, that I believe that he will not serve your Majesty
so well in this country as in another, where these opportunities
are wanting. The other thing is that I do not consider it fitting
to the royal service of your Majesty to give a man who should have
served your Majesty in a similar place here, anything in Mexico; for
as such men go delighted with their interests and gains from trade
here, they are fettered and biased by their relations with the trade
of this country, which always [_break in MS_.] objects and profits,
and not in accord with the common welfare and perpetuity of these
islands. In both of these matters your Majesty will determine what
is most important for your royal service. May our Lord preserve and
prosper your Majesty for many long years, as Christendom has need.