of ours causes me anxiety, especially in view of his
coming through a sea so calm and winds so gentle that
small boats are able to navigate it, as most of the
people of this region have told and declared to me.
As regards his saying that he was absolutely obliged
to enter, owing to lack of provisions, I reply through
the lips of the captain of his company and those of
ours here, who affirmed that in the Ladrones Islands
where he was best employed in the service of God,
so many boats brought him supplies that their number
was estimated in one single day at six hundred; moreover,
that in the islands aforesaid, and in others by which
they passed, they obtained hens, swine, fish, rice,
and yams. The same thing was told me by the father
prior; and I understand that Guido de Lavezaris, treasurer
of his majesty and his grace, having, in this archipelago
of ours, nothing left of the six hundred boat-loads
and obtaining in this region so little food in the
boats or camp, sent to Panae and others of our districts
for supplies at the cost of a great deal of trouble.
This is a fact well attested, since I have been in
this port; for I consented and allowed many vessels
bearing supplies to enter, on their declaring to me
that there was so great lack of provisions here that
many soldiers were living upon grass. I assert
it to be clear and evident, moreover, for every man
of judgment and understanding, that so rich a fleet—comprising
so large ships, sent forth for the purpose of discovery
by its king, and departing from his kingdom of Nova
Spanha, a land of so great fertility and abundance—would
not lack supplies and munitions for three or even
four years; and that a fleet so large as that of which
his grace is commander must have come provided and
supplied with everything necessary for a long period
of time. And this was, indeed, declared to be
the fact by the chief men of the encampment, who said
that biscuit and supplies abounded on the flagship,
when it arrived hence at Nova Spanha; and that there
was great superfluity in many things obtained from
the islands lying within their demarcation, as well
as in many more which his grace brought over in his
fleet. In this lack of provisions (in which he
placed himself very much by his own choice), we placed
Alvoro de Mendonca, who was then captain of the fortress
of Maluco, at his disposal for everything that he
might need from these lands and seas of the king our
sovereign, in the month of July of the year one thousand
five hundred and sixty-seven through the means of Antonio
Ronbo da Costa and Baltesar de Sousa, whom I sent for
this purpose from Maluco in two caracoras.
This his grace did not accept— on account
of the abundance of everything which he possessed,
as if appears—contrary to the action which
would be taken by one who is in necessity, and who
avails and assists himself even through the medium
of his enemies; and even more so in the case of so
good friends as are and always have been the vassals