Volume 34 — LETTER FROM MARTIN DE RADA TO VICEROY MARTIN ENRIQUEZ
Reading edition
Most Excellent Sir:
Although some of the religious desire to return to that Nueva España because of their great scruples concerning the actions of this country and the lack of permanence here, I have detained them and am detaining them in the hope that your Excellency or his Majesty will provide the relief that is advisable by the first ships.
A general epidemic of smallpox has raged here this year, which has spared neither childhood, youth, nor old age. I believe that there are very few who have not had it (that is, of the natives), and many people have died of it.
Fray Martin de Herrada
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · See this “Opinion” in VOL. III, pp. 253–259; and Lavezaris’s reply thereto, pp. 260–271. ↑Note 2 · The original at this point is somewhat blind. The last two sentences read there: Ay ya muchos xptianos aqui en manila y en tondo y en lubao Note 3 · See this order in the letter written to Legazpi by Felipe II, on November 16, 1568, ante, p. 237; and the report given by Guido de LavezarisNote 4 · May the grace of the Holy Ghost dwell forever in the soul of your Excellency. I received a letter from your Excellency last year after the dNote 5 · Blessed be God, the instruction goes on, and the Indians are taking it up. Already there are many Christians here at Manila. Although there Note 6 · I have seen one of his Majesty’s decrees, in which he orders the governor to inform him of the causes for making slaves among these natives.