Royal Catholic Majesty:
By this ship, which is to leave these islands on the last of June of
this year, I am giving your Majesty a full account of the condition of
affairs and events in this region. As it was about to sail news came
of the fleet--which, I wrote among other things, I had despatched to
effect a settlement in Cagayan--and of the punishment and resistance
of the Japanese pirates, of whose coming we had news this year. The
fleet sent by me, as above stated, met two vessels of the enemy near
Cagayan, one of Japanese and the other of Sangleys; an engagement
ensued, and those vessels surrendered after a fierce fight, in which
two hundred Japanese, among them the commander of the fleet and his
son, were killed, while we lost only three soldiers.
Juan Pablo de Carrion, whom I sent as my lieutenant-general in charge
of this fleet, continued his journey, and entered the Cagayan River,
where he was to make a settlement. At the entrance of the river he
found six more Japanese vessels belonging to the fleet of those which
had surrendered. There was also a goodly number of people there, and
fortifications. On account of his lack of men--a severe storm having
driven out to sea the flagship, which he took on this expedition--he
did not sack these forts, but attempted only to enter the river. This
he did, going up about six leagues, where he made a settlement in a
place where he could erect a fort, whence he could direct offensive
and defensive warfare against the enemy. This news came yesterday;
and with all possible despatch I am sending reënforcements, boats,
ammunition, and the provisions necessary. I considered it so needful
to employ the soldiers for this purpose, because too small a force
remains to me for the aid of Maluco, as I have written, since that
undertaking is so important. However if they send from that place to
beg aid, I shall give it with what forces I can. For I suffer a great
lack of men and other things because no reënforcements have been sent
me from Nueva España, although I have implored them. This land suffers
from a constant and pressing need of reënforcements, on account not
only of its unhealthful climate, but of the many emergencies which
continually arise when I must send aid. These occasions now are not
so much a matter of jest as they have been hitherto; for the Chinese
and Japanese are not Indians, but people as valiant as many of the
inhabitants of Berberia [Barbary], and even more so. I entreat your
Majesty to give careful attention to this, and to order that in all
vessels as many men as possible be sent; for it is the key to what is
necessary for the preservation of this camp. I beg also that careful
attention be given in the other things.
The gratuity for the expenses incurred in these necessary undertakings
and for others similar to them, which are thrusting themselves forward
every moment--which was provided by your Majesty's auditors of your
royal Audiencia of Mexico in the ship arriving at this bay on the
twenty-fourth of last month, consisted of a decree and warrant in
which they order that Doctor Sande be paid here for the time while he
remained here after my arrival, and until his arrival at Mexico. For
this purpose they set aside in their decree the tributes which belong
to your Majesty, and order that they be attached for this and sent
to them--threatening me with imprisonment if I do not comply. I have
written to your Majesty already of the poor state of your treasury
here and its many pressing necessities, and of the extreme difficulty
experienced in raising the amount needful for the same. Will your
Majesty please take suitable action in this? for without the aid
of what little resources your Majesty possesses here, this colony
cannot be preserved. May our Lord guard the Catholic and royal person
of your Majesty for mary prosperous years, and give you increase of
many kingdoms and seigniories for the good of Christianity. Manila,
July first, 82.
[_Endorsed:_ "To the royal Catholic Majesty, King Don Phelipe, our
sovereign, through his royal council of the Indies. Governor of the
Philipinas."]