Sire: All vessels sailing to Nueva España, since the Audiencia was
established here, have taken advices to your Majesty of everything that
has appeared fitting to your royal service. The orders of your royal
decrees and the ordinances of the royal Council have been observed
with all care. Whenever any trouble has arisen in the execution of
these decrees and ordinances, advice thereof has been given in the
letters from this royal Audiencia, as your Majesty may see, should
you wish information thereof.
With the arrival of Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, governor and
captain-general of these islands, the president, auditors, and fiscal
of this Audiencia ceased to exercise their duties, and the trials of
cases pending in that body were suspended, so that, in accordance with
the orders of the royal decrees despatched in regard to this matter,
they might be concluded in the royal chancilleria of Mexico.
Doctor Sanctiago de Vera, former president of this Audiencia, intended
to go to Nueva España this year to assume his post as auditor in the
royal Audiencia of Mexico, to which your Majesty appointed him. Just as
he was about to embark, he was forced to remain here in these islands
this year, because of a certain very severe sickness of his wife, from
which she nearly died. He will sail next year. Licentiate Pedro de
Rojas remains in these islands in the capacity of lieutenant-governor
and counselor in government and military matters, in accordance with
his letters-patent. Although this country proves very unfavorable to
his health, so that he remains here at evident risk of life--because
of a disease from which many die, and which has brought him twice
or thrice to the verge of death--yet he thinks it his duty to
continue his service to your Majesty here, and to remain at his post,
notwithstanding all the danger. We beg your Majesty kindly to appoint
him to another post elsewhere, where his health may be preserved,
for he has always suffered here from weakness and ill-health. Not only
would this prove to be an assurance of his life; his services, which
are so acceptable and well-known, are such that he merits this favor
from your Majesty. Inasmuch as he was auditor of this Audiencia, and
the oldest member of it, because of the death of the licentiate Abalos,
he should not be permitted to remain now as lieutenant-governor; for
he is a person of whom your Majesty can make use in the government,
and in any post whatever of great importance and trust.
The licentiate Don Antonio de Rivera, auditor of this royal Audiencia,
and the licentiate Ayala, [34] its fiscal, remain here without
office. They were detained here one year in order to be present
in this city during the four months of their residencia. They are
very much disheartened over this, for they do not know to what post
your Majesty will appoint them. They have served in their respective
posts in these islands during their whole term with care, integrity,
and disinterestedness, that [_MS. illegible_] and they are suffering
from so great necessity and are five thousand leagues distant from
those kingdoms, burdened with large families and households. They are
grieving greatly over the prospect of so long, dangerous, and costly a
voyage. We entreat your Majesty, since it is so just that rewards and
promotions be given to your servants who have served you faithfully,
and which your Majesty has ever been wont to bestow so generously, that
you do not permit them to remain unrewarded, and that you have their
salaries paid them from the time when their offices became vacant;
for their services merit this, as well as the eagerness with which
they have always exerted themselves, devoting all their energies to
the sole service of God and your Majesty. They have ceased to exercise
their duties in-these posts--the best and chiefest of the kingdom--not
through any demerit, but through the suppression of the Audiencia. We
trust that your Majesty will look favorably upon them and upon your
other servants who have served you in this royal Audiencia; and that
you will reward them and promote them as we desire. May God preserve
the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, June 20, 1590.
The doctor _Santiago Devera_
The licentiate _Pedro de Rojas_
The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_
[_Endorsed_: "Filipinas; to his Majesty, 1590. The Audiencia, June
20. Seen, and no answer is necessary. Make a memorandum regarding
this auditor and fiscal."]