I have informed your Majesty in other letters concerning the condition of these your Filipinas islands, and refer you to what I have written to your Majesty’s Royal Council of the Indies, which letters have probably arrived ere now.  Likewise I have informed your Majesty how, obeying your Majesty’s orders, and those of the Royal Council of the Indies, to obtain the friendship of the king of Borney and Vindanao, and to render an account of what was done in this matter, I left this city of Manila with the fleet of galleys and galliots.  This I did for your Majesty on the third day of March, and I proceeded to the island of Borney with forty sail, counting ships of this country, and with peaceful intentions, as my actions demonstrated.  But the Moro king of those districts, not wishing peace, came out with his fleet to fight me on the sea, three or four leagues from the city.  I sent him a written message of peace; but he killed one of the ambassadors (who were chiefs), and despoiled them of their possessions, as well as the Moro rowers whom they took with them from this island of Lucon.  But although three of these have returned, the others have not.  Finally he opened hostilities, discharging his artillery.  After we had fired a number of volleys, it was God’s pleasure that the Moros should be conquered and take to flight.  Thereupon I employed myself in collecting the galleys and ships taken from them—­in all twenty-seven.  Likewise I secured the artillery, dragging much of the same out of the water, where they had thrown it—­in all one hundred and seventy pieces, both large and small.  In my other letter, however, I did not inform your Majesty exactly concerning this number, and stated that I had remained in Borney to settle and populate it, as in fact I did.

After this, when I had subdued four or five thousand Moros who were settled there—­among them an uncle of the king, and a cousin who served the latter there as captain-general in that war, the king of Borney persisting in hiding in the mountains and swamps in which that island abounds—­and when I set about collecting and summoning the people, it was God’s will that all my soldiers should fall ill.  It became necessary for me to set sail in order to save my men, as your Majesty will perceive by the relation which I am sending to the Royal Council of the Indies.  However, I first made an agreement with those chiefs, who promised to give full obedience to your Majesty; and that king assured me that he would receive Spaniards.  Therefore, at the first occasion the Spaniards will effect a settlement, a place will be chosen for them, which is understood to be most healthful; and your Majesty will be informed thereof.

From Borney I sent seven of the galleys captured there, with artillery, and two others of your Majesty’s ships, for the pacification of the island of Vindanao.  That fleet arrived there after a quiet voyage, and I shall have news of it this coming September.