said cross, and promised to exercise the said office of notary faithfully, legally, and diligently, under pain of incurring the penalties incurred by those who do not exercise their duties legally, and to keep secrets.  I affix my signature, together with the captain—­who, when he saw my oath and formality, said that he gave me complete power in form of law to exercise the said office, and said that he would confirm by his authority and judicial decree the acts that were executed before me, so that they should be valid in court or out of it.  Witnesses, Sergeant Lope de Catalinaga, Juan de Avila, and Don Sebastian de Baeca, soldiers.

Grabiel de Ribera

Benito de Mendiola, notary of the fleet

In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirtieth day of the month of March of the said year, Dato Bahandil, chief of the said village of Silanga, appeared before the said captain, and said that, in obedience to his Grace’s orders in regard to the messenger that should be sent to the said Limasancay, he sent yesterday, the twenty-ninth day of this present month, an Indian timagua from his village accompanied by four Indians, in a baroto.  He gave these men the payment that his Grace had given him for this purpose.  He told and charged them all that his Grace had ordered to be told to the said Limasancay and other chiefs.  He expects a reply within three days.

Being asked by the said Laquidan, interpreter, how it is that, being hostile to the said Limasancay, as he says, he does not know where he is and where he is living, Dato Bahandil answered that the said Limasancay is fleeing with one virey and ten vancas.  From fear of the Spaniards he never remains in one town permanently but is in one swamp today and another tomorrow.  This he declared before the witnesses, Sergeant Catalinaga and Juan Davila.

Grabiel de Ribera

Before me: 

Benito de Mendiola, notary of the fleet

In the said village of Mindanao, on the thirty-first day of the said month of March, Sihauil, a friendly Indian of Dato Bahandil’s town, appeared before the said captain and in the presence of me, the present notary.  Through the said interpreter, Laquian, he told the said captain that, if he would pay him, he would tell him where was the other large piece of artillery brought by Limasancay from the said village of Samboanga.  He asked them not to tell Limasancay who had told them, lest he order him to be killed.  The captain bargained with the said Indian in my presence to pay him three taes of ingot [linguague] gold, which was proved with the touchstone, according to the said law; and they were weighed out and given to him immediately.  Then many of the Indians and soldiers went to look for the said piece, and dragged a small marsh, which is covered by the river at high tide, quite near the fort built by order of the said captain.  They found a bronze piece of artillery bearing the arms of the king of Portugal, apparently some seven or eight quintals in weight.  The said captain ordered it placed on one of the fragatas—­that commanded by Lope de Catalinaga.  And although many people looked for other pieces throughout that entire swamp, no more were found.  I certify thereto.  Witnesses, Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, Diego Nunez, and Ensign Melchor de Torres.