It is believed that he will cause them to await his letters in Mindoro, which is thirty leguas from Manila, all the month of August or but slightly less.

Yet it is certain that, without changing things from their usual course, the ships could now be out of the channel.

However, it appears that all that may be a mistake, and that God is permitting it in order to compel the inhabitants of these islands, after losing faith in human, to turn to divine means.
In regard to greed for gain, no good rumor is current; and it is said that of the loss therefrom no little share falls to the royal treasury in paying orders that are bought at less than the fourth of their face value.

Consequently at the same time while not one real of advance pay thereon is allowed to the owner of the order--which is issued to him for his sweat and toil, or to his wife and children on account of his death while serving your Majesty in the war--it is sold for one-fourth or a less part of its face value, and that is paid in full to its purchaser by the governor's decree.

A vast sum has been used up in this, for the money brought from Nueva Espana, that derived from the Sangley licenses, the loans of citizens, and that from other sources, have been spent in less than one year.