The viceroys of the kingdom of China are for the most part eunuchs,
and to that end the king bring up a number of them in his house;
it is said that there are fourteen thousand from whom he may choose.

Cavite is the principal port of the Filipinas, and lies three leagues
from Manila. Luzon is the name of the island on which Manila is
situated.

_Copy of the petition and information given by the fiscal of the
royal Audiencia of the Filipinas concerning the three mandarins who
came to the city of Manila_.

Most potent lord: The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo,
your fiscal in the royal Chancillería of the Philipinas Islands,
will relate this as best he can. On Friday, which I reckon to be
the twenty-third of this present month of May, there entered into
this city three infidel Sangleys, who came in the last-arrived ships
from the kingdom of China; and they wear the garments and caps which
are usually worn in that kingdom by the great mandarins--for it is
thus they call those who serve their king in some high office of
justice. They say that they came by his order to see if there is a
hill of gold in the port of Cavite; for he has been informed that his
Chinese vassals who trade and traffic in these said islands bring a
quantity of gold on which they do not pay him duty; and, that they
may pay it, he wishes to know the truth. The said three Sangleys,
who claim to be mandarins, go out from their houses on their way
to this city, seated in chairs upon the shoulders of four Sangleys;
and, attached to their persons, on each side go six of their guards
armed as archers. Before them walk two Sangleys who bear suspended