perhaps he will make this matter known, as he will be free from the
jurisdiction of the auditor; but here what he swears under oath only
hinders the matter. The troubles arising from the pretensions of the
said Don Antonio are not confined to this matter; for, furthermore,
when the uprising of the Sangleys occurred, and the auditors were
obliged to lay aside their robes and put on short cloaks, as they
did, the said Don Antonio went about with a gilded sword. Then,
when occasion for this was past, the other auditors put on their
robes; but the said Don Antonio seemed to think that he represented
a different person from an auditor, and was not obliged to do as the
other auditors did. He kept on his short cloak and sword, and appeared
thus in the halls of justice, possibly because he thought it suited
his affair of the marriage, as it was at this time that he pressed it
most. And as I thought that it was not right that he should try to
distinguish himself in so unfitting a manner, and that it ought not
to be permitted, and as remarks about it had been made in public, I
told him of it, and asked him to put on the robe. The answer he gave
was what your Majesty may learn in the document which accompanies
this, to which I refer you--adding only that your Majesty may judge
by this matter how other things must go, and his manner of behavior,
in which he goes so far as to say, and let it be understood, that he
alone can do these things, and must command everything. Your Majesty
will decree the remedy which is expedient and so necessary. May our
Lord protect the Catholic person of your Majesty with the happiness
needful for Christendom. Manila, July 15, 1605.

_Don Pedro de Acuña_