Besides the said loss, there was much artillery which the said Doctor Morga was taking in the said ship, and supplies of war, as he had taken what lay in the forts of this city, leaving them destitute of supplies, and the royal storehouses almost without powder; for he took six hundred barrels of it on the said flagship.  Owing to the lack of men—­so great that hardly anyone appeared on the streets—­and that of the said artillery and arms of various kinds, this city was in such danger of ruin as never before, if some of the many enemies who surround it had attacked it with even a small force.  Likewise the opportunity for the capture of the said flagship of the enemy was lost, in which was stored all which they had captured since leaving Olanda, and twenty pieces of artillery which they brought, many stores, and eight hundred muskets—­all of which they were carrying, according to the declaration of the enemies who were in our power.  For this country, where there is such a want of that kind of articles, and so many occasions continually arising in which they are necessary, it would have been of great importance and value; but the enemy is taking them away to buy with them cloves and pepper, and other drugs from these regions, as they are at present doing.  For we have certain news that they went to the Maluco Islands, where they are anchored, and will leave the enemy there—­who are most warlike, and who are most continually making war upon us—­strengthened with arms like ours, whereby they will become skilful in their use; and from that will follow many difficulties, as may be imagined.

Likewise there results another very great injury to these regions, because, the said ship of the enemy having escaped, they carry with them an excellent knowledge of these regions and of the sailing-routes; for day by day they record in writing their bearings, and the courses by which they have navigated.  There is a society which has been formed in Olanda and other states, for the destruction of these regions, according to the account which all the enemies who were captured alive agreed in.  Five great galleons for this purpose were being built here, so that if any of those ships should come from there the Spaniards might sally out with more force.

We are sending your Majesty a copy of an information in this matter which was secured by your Majesty’s fiscal with great secrecy, before the licentiate Almacan, auditor of this royal Audiencia.  There is likewise a testimonial concerning the arms, military stores, artillery, and troops taken by the said Doctor Morga, in his flagship against that of the enemy; of the troops, not more than fifty-six people in all came back.  There is another to the effect that on the morning of the day when the enemy were discovered the commander sent to the admiral fourteen of the twenty-seven that he had.  There are some documents, drawn up at the petition of the said Doctor Morga, concerning the artillery and other articles which he caused to