the Indians declare that they punished like crimes better when they
were infidels, while the Sangley infidels assert that their law is
better, for justice proceeds rigorously to punish false witnesses,
which is not done by the royal Audiencia.

3d. _Item_: The said royal Audiencia is the cause of the perversion of
distributive justice. Dignities and offices are given to the unworthy
and undeserving, thus causing those who have served his Majesty to
complain. [20] For the appointive offices and offices of dignity,
both of war and of the districts of alcaldes-mayor, are given to
the brothers, sons, or relatives of the said auditors. These are men
without experience or merit. As a manifest and evident proof of this,
it is not necessary to refer to the events of past years, but only to
what is now current in this city of Manila. There are five companies of
foot-soldiers. Don Pedro de Almaçan, son of Auditor Almaçan, a youth
of tender years, and inexperienced in military affairs, is captain
of one company. Don Juan de la Vega, son of Auditor Vega, likewise a
person of tender years, has another company. Captain Madrid, brother of
Auditor Madrid--who has been in this country but one year, and before
coming here was only a common soldier--has a third company. I do not
mention many others--alferezes and sergeants who are immature boys--at
whom all laugh, and who would better be in school than occupying
such offices. They are the ridicule and plaything of the soldiers;
for the latter see in them no other valor or sufficiency than to
be relatives of the auditors or fiscal. The same is true of other
honorable and advantageous posts. Mateo de Heredia is alcalde-mayor
of La Pampanga. He is the son-in-law of Licentiate Almacan, and that
office is the best appointment in this country. To be chief guard
of the parián of the Sangleys is a position that needs especially
qualified persons, and those who have served his Majesty for many