The bearer of this is the father definitor, Fray Diego Cerravi, [59] who came to these regions from Castilla about eight years ago, and has served your Majesty and the order here very advantageously. He is a learned and virtuous religious, who speaks the truth; accordingly your Majesty may credit what he says. He is a man of so many good qualities that, to tell your Majesty in a word, he leaves us at his departure lonely, sad, and disconsolate at losing him--although we are consoled by our confidence in the favor and grace which your Majesty will show this province and to him in its name, by ordering that aid be given to him in the business which he has in his charge; and especially that he may bring us friars from the province of Castilla, who are here much approved for their virtue and learning. And we are confident that your Majesty will favor us in all matters as our protector, patron, and only defender; we trust no less that our Lord will protect for us the royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of your kingdoms and seigniories, and of us, your ministers and chaplains. We beseech, etc. From this your Majesty's convent of the Order of our father Saint Augustine. In the city of Manila, on the fourth of July in the year one thousand six hundred and two.
_Fray Pedro Arce_, provincial _Fray Agustin de Tapia_, definitor _Fray Bernave de Villalovos_, definitor _Fray Diego Cerrabe_, definitor _Fray Pedro de Salzedo_, definitor
[_Endorsed with the following order_: "Join this with the letter from the Audiencia, and bring them in on January 28, 1604."]
Since the last year, 601, an account has been given to your Majesty of the expedition which I conducted at the close of the previous year, 1600, by order of the governor and president, Don Francisco de Tello, against Olibert de Norte, a corsair from Holland who entered among these islands, taking prizes with two ships of war; and of the outcome of the expedition, by which the said corsair was punished and harassed.
Francisco de las Missas, factor and overseer of your Majesty's exchequer in these islands, whom I inspected a short time ago ... [under a] [60] special commission from your Majesty, and passed sentence upon him ... penalties and restitutions as will appear by the report of the inspection which I have sent to your ... [Majesty] by three routes. He has been so hostile ... that he displays his jealousy of me in all matters [in so far as] he can. Accordingly, on account of this--as well as to cover his fault at the time of the despatch of the fleet which I took, by sending me unsupplied with sailors and other things necessary, which it was his duty to furnish--among other measures which he has taken since the past year, one has been under color and appearance of proceeding from the licentiate Salazar de Salzedo, fiscal of this Audiencia (whom, for private reasons, he holds quite in his power). The said factor induced the fiscal, in the affair of his investigation, to draw up a secret information with suborned witnesses--sailors and others, who are at his call--by which it is intimated that he furnished me well, and that the commander's ship was lost through my fault, imputing to me by the statements of these men other and illegal actions, in order to disparage my faithful service; by this may be seen the malice and passion of those concerned in this affair. That document was sent to your Majesty and the ministers before whom this matter is considered.