When I spoke of Ternate, I forgot to mention a very important matter, which perhaps is already forgotten.  There was a king in Ternate called Cachil Boleyfe, aged and very prudent, regarded by the Moros as a prophet.  He was taken to Malaca because of a certain crime; and, having been acquitted, he received baptism and died there as a Catholic.  He said that, having no legitimate successor, he constituted King Don Juan the Third of Portugal his heir to the kingdom and islands subject to Ternate.  This will was brought to Ternate, and all the chiefs of the kingdom swore allegiance to the new king, with great feasting and solemnity.  Possession of the kingdom was taken, with all the ceremonies required by law.  This is what the historians say, especially Juan de Barros—­in the third Decada, book five, chapter six.  At the end of the seventh chapter, he says that the fortress now held by the tyrant was built by Captain Antonio de Brito, who began the work with his own hands on St. John’s day, in 1522.  He did this with the consent of all the Moros, and therefore called the fort San Juan.  It is well that your Majesty should know the very foundation of your rights, and should at least understand that my endeavor is to give information and service.  May God permit your Majesty to live, without setting a bound to your life; for the human race and the Church of God have need of this.  From the city of Manila, July 3, in the year 84 (according to the old reckoning, as I have said).  Most powerful Lord, your most humble servant kisses the feet of your Majesty.

The licentiate Melchior Davalos

[Endorsed: “To the sacred royal Catholic Majesty of the king, Don Phelipe, our sovereign lord.  In his Council of the Indies.”  “Philipinas.  To his Majesty, 1584.  From the licentiate Melchor de Abalos, July 3.”  “Examined; there is nothing to be answered.”]

Letter from Santiago de Vera to the Archbishop of Mexico

Most Illustrious Senor: 

I was more content to learn of the health of your illustrious Lordship [10] than to know that you governed that land—­since the first is of so great importance, and the other is merited by your Lordship.  I hope that our Lord will bestow on you the see of St. Peter, that all may be as we your servants desire.

After having written another letter which accompanies this, I received that of your illustrious Lordship which came in the ship “San Juan.”  As in the other I have referred to some things that may be omitted here, and as I do not wish to weary your Lordship with a long account of business attendant on your charge, I write this only to assure your Lordship that you may command me.

Great satisfaction was felt in this country that the ship “Mora” arrived so miraculously at port.  The death of the crew, I assure your Lordship, was not for lack of supplying themselves here with the necessaries for the voyage; for although but little time was spent in despatching the ship, I exercised much diligence in seeing that more men and provisions were shipped than is customary.  There are things which our Lord permits; since it was His will that they should die, it was an instance of His great clemency.