It was agreed to despatch this patache on account of the delay there has been in sending your Majesty’s despatches from Nueva Espana, and also to let your Majesty know our negotiations with the Portuguese and our great necessity; for there does not remain to us a larger boat in which we can give notice of what happens, nor supplies enough to be able to make one.  In consideration of this, your Majesty will be pleased to have provided, with diligence, sufficient assistance, so that we may find out what there is in these regions; and, that God and your Majesty may be served therein, we are sure that your Majesty will have this provided for.  May our Lord guard your sacred royal Catholic person and increase your kingdoms and seigniories.  From Cubu, June viii, 1569.

Your sacred Catholic Majesty’s faithful servant, who humbly kisses your Majesty’s royal feet.

Andres de Mirandaola

Letter from Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to the Marques de Falces

On the first of July of last year, I despatched from this port Captain Felipe de Salzedo in the flagship to that Nueva Espana, to give your Excellency [8] an account and relation of what had occurred until then, and to carry specimens of articles produced in this land.  It pleased God that the ship should be wrecked while at anchor in one of the Ladrones Islands; for it was driven on the coast and all that was on board was lost, except the crew.  They returned to these islands with much difficulty, in the boat, which they repaired for that purpose, as well as they could.  Felipe de Salcedo saved the packet of letters for your excellency, which accompanies this letter.  A few days after the departure of the flagship from here, I heard that a Portuguese fleet was coming toward us.  In fact, it came in sight of this port—­seven vessels in all, sailing in a line, four galleons and three fustas.  The captain-general of the fleet was a gentleman called Goncalo Pereira.  At first, he declared that he came there only to see us and to inquire whether we needed anything that he could supply us; but after he had entered the port with fine words, offers, and promises both general and specific, he tried to persuade us to go with him to India, saying that he was surprised at our remaining so long in this land, when we knew that it belonged to the king of Portugal.  I answered him that I had believed myself to be on land of his Majesty, but that, not being a cosmographer, and not possessing a commission from his Majesty in regard to it, I did not wish to contradict him or quarrel with him on that subject.  I assured him that, on arriving in this land, I was obliged to go into winter-quarters here; and that I had despatched a ship to his Majesty with a relation of what had occurred on the voyage.  I added that I had been expecting and still expected an answer to that report; and that for lack of ships I had postponed my departure from