use is as a way-station from New Spain; and New Guinea on the other
hand offers much profit in both temporal and religious matters,
that their conquest be permitted to Legazpi. 21. That, in case of
Legazpi's death before the conquest is effected, the petitioner,
or Legazpi's heir and successor, or the person appointed by him,
may complete it. This petition was vistoed in Madrid, March 2,
1569, although it had been presented a considerable time before
that date. After waiting for two years in vain for an answer to this
petition Melchor de Legazpi presented another petition asking: that
efficient aid be sent his father; that he be confirmed in his title
of governor and captain-general "with the salary that your highness
is pleased to assign him, and with the other rewards contained in
his [Legazpi's] petition, ... and that he be not abandoned to die
in despair at seeing himself forsaken and forgotten by his king;"
that he be granted the four thousand ducats promised him by Velasco
"in order that we might better prepare for the marriage of ... my
sister, who is of marriageable age." The petition states that even had
Legazpi's expedition proved a failure, the king should not permit want
to come upon his children, since his substance had been expended in
the royal service. In the third petition, Melchor de Legazpi requests
that the office of accountant of the City of Mexico rendered vacant
by the death of its incumbent, be bestowed upon him, in remembrance of
his father's services. He says the family is "poverty-stricken and in
debt," because of his father having spent all his possessions in the
king's service. The fourth petition presents information concerning
Legazpi's services. The fifth petition requests that certain persons
be received by the court as witnesses, and give information regarding
Legazpi. From the testimony of these persons it was shown that Legazpi
was one of the oldest and most honored citizens of the City of Mexico;
that he was a wealthy landholder of that city; and had lost his wealth