With Captain Joan de la Ysla, who arrived at this river on St. John’s eve last, I received a letter from your Majesty from the Escorial [34] dated the sixteenth of November, of the year sixty-eight, with the despatches and the favors that your Majesty was pleased to grant this camp.  For these and for other things that we expect from your Majesty, all these faithful vassals of your Majesty, and in their name for all, kiss your Majesty’s royal feet and hands.  We pray God, our lord, to give us time and opportunity, as loyal vassals employed in your royal service, to merit being the instruments of the augmentation of your royal crown, with increase of new realms and dominions; and that in the fortunate days of your Majesty the Christian faith may be planted, grow, and increase in these lands, where the infidelity and rule of the Devil, our adversary, so long prevailed.

With the ships that left here last year (sixty-nine), under Captain Felipe de Salcedo, I sent your Majesty a report of everything that happened until then and the affair with the captain general of the Portuguese fleet.  They write me that this same Felipe de Salcedo took this despatch to your Majesty on a despatch boat that was sent from Mexico, for this purpose, whereby your Majesty will have seen, learned, and understood what occurred here.  We have had no word here, since then, of the Portuguese; nor do I believe that they will return, because they were much harassed, and also I am certain that none of those that went from here will have any desire to return.  That, however, is no reason why I should neglect what concerns your Majesty’s royal service.  I await them within three months in this archipelago, which is the time in which they can come; and so I live with as much foreboding as if I had them before me.

By other letters I have entreated your Majesty, informing you of the necessity in this archipelago for boats with oars; and how important they will be for the further discovery of other things of greater importance, which until now has been neglected, through not having these boats.  Twice I have sent men in Indian praus for explorations to the north and northwest of us.  Once they discovered certain islands, small but well peopled with Moros; and the other time they discovered on the coast of Lucon, which is a large island, several settlements of Moros.  The latter have artillery, which they themselves cast and finish, and likewise powder and other ammunition.  Some of the towns received them in peace, but others would not.  The possessions taken in your Majesty’s name accompany the present letter.  These Moros have much more trade, because they make voyages for that purpose, going among the people on the Chinese mainland, and to the Japanese.  I again repeat how advantageous it would be to your Majesty’s service to have some oared vessels here, because the Spanish are not accustomed to navigate with skill in those of the Indians, and run great risks by going in them.  And in order that this may not occur, will your Majesty please command that what seems best to you in that case be ascertained and provided.