have been in captivity there.  It seems to this witness that it will be a matter of the greatest importance to attack the said king of Chanpan and crush him, because he is in the route of the vessels where he does a great deal of harm, because all the trading-vessels from Malaca, Canboja, Cian, Patan, China, and other neighboring countries have to pass by that place.  It will be a great service to God our Lord, and to his Majesty, to remove so great a pirate from the vicinity.  Everything that this witness has said is the truth, and what he has heard said concerning the things asked him.  His information goes no farther.  His age is about thirty-seven years or so.

Signed, Fernan Caravallo

Before me: 

Jhoan de Cuellar

[Endorsed:  “Inquiry against the king of Chanpa.”]

Letter from Governor Don Francisco Tello

1. This recounts that on all occasions the state of affairs of these islands has been reported, and was not enlarged upon because no instruction had been sent nor has been up to the year 1598, on which account many things pertaining to the service of his Majesty, and of importance for this country, have failed to receive attention. [31]

As I have at various times written to your Majesty, you ordered me to come here and serve in this country, without giving me the royal instructions of despatches to that end.  Accordingly many things of importance which your Majesty commanded me to attend to were left undone at the time I came.  When I arrived in these islands I wrote to your Majesty at length of those things which could be managed in spite of the short time I had spent here.  These despatches were lost in the ship “San Phelipe” which Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas despatched in the year 1596, and which was lost in Xapon.  The next year, 1597, I awaited the royal instruction of your Majesty in order to govern my action by it; but neither did that come, until the past year, 1598.  I govern my action according to that of Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, my predecessor, and with that I have stumbled through various matters.  In the past year, 1597, I wrote at length to your Majesty describing the condition of the country and that of Japon, together with the state of the expedition to Mindanao, and all other things which seemed expedient.  I also wrote that I had married Dona Tomasina, my relative, and the daughter of Doctor Horosco, president of your royal Audiencia of Guadalaxara—­humbly beseeching your Majesty to approve of this, since Dona Tomasina was not a native of this country; and I had not gone beyond your Majesty’s intentions, for you gave me permission to bring my wife to this land.  As she died on the way I married Dona Tomasina, whom I brought from Mexico.  In the past year, 1598, I received the royal instruction of your Majesty and other royal decrees which were mentioned therein, at the time when the ships were being despatched.  Those things which could be done at that time, considering the short time before they left, I attended to then.  I have in everything worked for the service of our Lord and your Majesty, conformably to the pious zeal and spirit with which I am serving you here; and I have carried out those things entrusted in your royal service to my predecessor.