find me. It is no valid objection to say that
I have had ships in which I could have left—such,
for example, as the “Capitana” and the
“San Juan,” which went to Nueva Espana—for
the “Capitana” carried about two hundred
persons, and the patache “San Juan”
seventy, which number was the utmost that they could
carry, on account of the supplies and rigging which
they bore. Nor does it avail to say that I intentionally
ran the flagship aground, for the opposite is the
truth; nor should it be presumed or believed that a
vessel so much needed by this camp (the property,
moreover, of his majesty) could purposely have been
run aground—which statement any person
who is willing to look at the matter dispassionately,
will clearly perceive. And it avails even less
to say that the father Fray Andres de Urdaneta requested
me to settle in the island of Ladrones, for this did
not occur; nor will such a request ever appear, in
truth, save in so far as it was discussed whether
it would be well for us to go to that island, in view
of our having no supplies, or any kind of meat, or
anything to live on. It was agreed by all that
we should proceed thither, as was done; and the six
hundred crafts which he said came alongside the ships
came to beg and not to give. For, in all the
ten days of our stay there, we could not buy ten fanegas
of rice; and if they brought anything it was cocoanuts,
bananas, tamalle, and other articles of the
fruit kind, of very unsubstantial and ordinary quality.
This will prove to be the truth, rather than what
is said in opposition thereto. And when we arrived
at these islands, we were in great need of food, as
we had on board the fleet nothing but biscuit—and
even that in small quantity, as it was carried only
by the “Capitana” for its return; so that
the whole camp suffered for the lack of food.
And even if the supply of biscuit was more than sufficient
to last until Nueva Espana was reached, yet as the
return passage was not then known, we endeavored to
supply those going on the vessels with provisions
sufficient for one year; and as they arrived at Nueva
Espana instead, within three months, they had of necessity
a superabundance of biscuit. Further, regarding
his, accusations as to my being here against the will
of God and of his majesty, I deny it; for I have always
endeavored to do his majesty’s will with all
fidelity and loyalty like the true and faithful servant
that I am, as has ever been the custom of my ancestors;
and I shall try to pursue that course until I die.
Accordingly, I intend to give good account to his
majesty, as I have always done, of all matters entrusted
to me—which here require neither allegation
nor mention, for I am bound to account therefor to
his majesty alone. As for what he says concerning
the promises and kind services which were offered
me from him, I refer to his said first summons and
his reply to my rejoinder—the import of
which is that I should go with my men to his fleet