[43] Fajardo to Felipe III, August 10, 1618, Blair and Robertson, XVIII, 127. In regard to the points covered in the above letter of Fajardo, the audiencia legally lacked the power of granting encomiendas at this time, although it undoubtedly bestowed them, nevertheless. The power to grant encomiendas for the period of its temporary rule was granted October 24, 1655. Moreover, by cédulas of May 25, 1596, August 24, 1619, and September 5, 1620, the audiencia was conceded authority to make temporary appointments to offices when it assumed the government ad interim (Recopilación, 2–15–56; 3–2–47; 3–2–11 and 12).
[44] Fajardo to Felipe III, August 10, 1618, Blair and Robertson, XVIII, 124–125.
[45] Martínez de Zúñiga, An historical view, I, 250–251. The latter Silva was a relative of the viceroy, the Marqués de Cerralbo. He was well known in the Philippines, where he had formerly resided and married the daughter of an influential resident. He held the temporary governorship about a year. It was during his administration, and through his efforts, that the first Spanish expedition was made to Formosa, Silva having ordered the alcalde mayor of Cagayán to land there with a military force and establish fortifications. This was done; thereupon a large number of Dominican friars sought and obtained permission for the spiritual conquest of the Island. Zúñiga says that the latter “exerted themselves with such zeal, that in a short time they built several towns, and were able to number the greater part of the natives among the professors of our faith” (ibid., I, 252–253; Montero y Vidal, Historia general, I, 180–181).
[46] Audiencia to the King, July 24 and August 15, 1624, Blair and Robertson, XXI, 84–97.
[47] Silva to Felipe IV, August 4, 1625, Blair and Robertson, XXII, 62–78.
[48] Ibid., XXII, 66. The governor estimated the services of the magistrates in a special report to the king on July 30, 1626. He stated that Messa was “an upright judge, and zealous in the service of your Majesty.” His comments on the other three were as follows: “Geronimo de Lagaspi does what his two sons wish, whom, on account of their reckless lives, the governors cannot employ, and thus they are unable to satisfy their father, who is not contented except with favors. Don Juan de Valderrama does as his wife says; and Don Matias Flores, although a young man, is less harmful;... He makes all the profit he can from the office, and on the whole is not acceptable to the community, which is always disturbed by him” (Silva to Felipe IV, July 30, 1626, Blair and Robertson, XXII, 102).
[49] Instructions to Francisco de Rojas y Ornate, August 17, 1628, A. I., 105–2–1.
[50] See Royal Instructions to Rojas y Ornate and Tavora (duplicates), June 4, 1627, A. I., 105–2–1.
[51] Martínez de Zúñiga, An historical view, I, 264–266, Montero y Vidal, Historia general, I, 189–200. The method of filling vacancies in the governorship during this period was described in a letter from Governor Corcuera, Cerezo’s successor, to the king, dated June 30, 1636. He wrote: “Your Majesty has conceded to your viceroys of Nueva España authority, in case of deaths and vacancies in this government, to send commissions to those who are to have charge of military matters; and until the arrival of the regularly appointed governor you order them to send another governor from Mexico” (Corcuera to Felipe IV, June 30, 1636, Blair and Robertson, XXVI, 150).
[52] Cédula of January 30, 1635, A. I., 67–6–3.