They had, however, never been able to attain their desire, because of the unwillingness of the Chinese merchants trading at that port to take anyone--although whatever sum they should ask would have been given them--as they feared the punishment that would be inflicted upon them, according to the law of the kingdom.

For security that no ill-treatment would be showed to these men, he offered to leave pledges to their satisfaction.

The governor was very glad at this offer, for this was what he and all the inhabitants of the islands had been eagerly desiring for a long time.

Therefore he accepted it immediately, telling Omoncon that he absolved him from his promise and pledges, for he was quite well satisfied as to his worthiness, and that he would commit no act unbecoming his person or office.

The governor, very joyful over this news, at once summoned the Augustinian provincial, Fray Alonso de Alvarado, [27] who had been elected to this office but a few days previously.