of arms or by the efforts of the religious, who have sown the good
seed of the holy gospel therein. Various of them have labored valiantly
in this, not only in the time and administration of Adelantado Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, but also in that of the governors that have succeeded
him. The land was apportioned among its conquerors and colonizers. The
capitals of provinces, the ports, and the settlements of cities and
towns which had been founded, and other special encomiendas, were
assigned to the royal crown, for the necessities that arise and the
expenses of the royal exchequer. The affairs of government and the
conversion of the natives were treated as was necessary. Ships were
provided for the annual voyage to Nueva Espana, which return with the
usual supplies. Thus the condition of the Filipinas Islands has reached
its present known height in both spiritual and temporal matters.

Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, as above-said, discovered the
islands, colonized them, and made a good beginning in the work of
pacification and subjugation. He founded the city of Sanctisimo Nombre
de Jesus in the provinces of Pintados, and then the city of Manila
in the island of Luzon. In this island he conquered the province
of Ylocos, in whose settlement and port called Vigan, he founded a
Spanish colony, to which he gave the name of Villa Fernandina. [23]
He also pacified the province of Pangasinan and the island of Mindoro,
fixed the amount of tribute that the natives were to pay throughout the
islands, [24] and made many ordinances concerning their government and
conversion, until his death in the year one thousand five hundred and
seventy-four, at Manila, where his body was buried in the monastery
of St. Augustine. [25]

At his death, there was found among his papers a sealed despatch from
the Audiencia of Mexico, which was governing when the fleet left