and that the appeal must be allowed. On seeing the acts, he regards
himself as summoned. He signed the same.


_Don Fernando de Silva_

Before me:
_Andres Martin del Arroyo_, royal secretary.




_Decree for Don Fernando_

The King. On behalf of you, Don Fernando de Silva, knight of the
Order of Santiago, relation has been made me that you have served in
the states of Flandes, and that you have served in other important
affairs for more than ten years; that, having gone to Nueva España by
the appointment of the marquis of Çerralbo, you served _ad interim_
in the duties of my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas
Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, because of the
death of Don Alonso Fajardo de Tença; that you did it excellently,
maintaining that community in peace, which was supplied with what was
necessary; and that my royal treasury was but little burdened. When
Don Juan Niño de Tavora arrived to serve me in those offices, he
found the finest fleet of galleons which those islands have had, with
which they could defend themselves from the enemies who infest them;
provision of the metals necessary for casting artillery, and fifty
molds for casting the pieces every two days; and the infantry in good
discipline, clothing in abundance, and the ships for Nueva España ready